Financial Assistance
Two routes, and they are not the same
Assistance comes from two places. The Department makes grants from its own financial allocations, under the five schemes set out below. The Hindu Cultural Fund is a separate statutory body that makes its own grants, on its own cycle, with its own closing date.
Both require that the temple, school or institution is already registered with the Department. If yours is not, register it first — neither route is open until you have.
Temple renovation
A grant towards renovating a Hindu temple, made on request by the temple authorities and limited by the Department’s financial allocations for the year. The temple must already be registered at the Department.
Submit with the application form:
- The registration certificate of the temple
- Particulars of the temple committee on the temple letterhead, signed by the President and the Secretary
- A letter from the temple authorities setting out the details of the renovation
- An estimate approved by the technical officer or by a sculptor
- A plan of the renovation
- A photocopy of the bank account — the main pages of the book
Certification is compulsory
The application form must be certified by both the Grama Niladhari and the Divisional Secretary of the area. An application without both certifications cannot proceed.
The form is issued by the Department and is not published online. Ask the Assistant Director (Temple) for a copy before you prepare anything else.
Other assistance from the Department
Hindu elders’ and children’s homes
Homes run by Hindu institutions are registered at the Department, which asks for particulars of the elders and children each year. Assistance is granted according to those numbers, for a stated purpose — furniture and equipment, cloth materials and the like.
Furniture for an Aranery school
Rs. 30,000 is allocated to each school for this purpose. The request is made by the school itself.
Renovation for an institution
Hindu institutions that own their buildings may be granted assistance towards renovating them, and towards the Hindu religious activities they organise.
Allowance for Aranery teachers
Rs. 2,000 a year for an Aranery school teacher who sat the Aranery teachers’ examination the Department conducts each year.
About the amounts. Rs. 30,000 and Rs. 2,000 are the figures the Department last published. The other schemes it describes only as a small grant, and sets no figure against them. Confirm the current amount with the division before you count on it.
Grants from the Hindu Cultural Fund
The Fund makes its own grants to registered Hindu temples, Aranery schools and institutions, under the Hindu Cultural Fund Act No. 31 of 1985. It asks that the institution is registered with the Department, that a valid committee representative applies, and for supporting documents. Applications for the current cycle close on 31 March 2026.
Who to ask about this service
Temple renovation, and anything concerning a temple
Assistant Director (Temple) · +94 112 552642, ext 120
adtemple@hindudept.gov.lk
Aranery school furniture and teacher allowances
Mrs. Hemalogini Kumaran, Assistant Director (Hindu Education) · +94 112 554278, ext 201
adaranery@hindudept.gov.lk
Payments and accounts
Mrs. V. Diroshana, Accountant · +94 112 552824, ext 112
acc@hindudept.gov.lk
Related
Registration — required before either route
The Hindu Cultural Fund — the second route in full
E-Services — the other fifteen services