Eleven students will benefit from a newly established Japanese scholarship fund beginning next year.

The Nakayama Scholarship program was officially launched during an establishment ceremony last night at the Mendana Hotel in Honiara.

The program's beneficiaries are high school students endorsed by their respective school principals.

Under the program, each student receives three thousand dollars each to help towards school fees.

Founder, Atsuo Nakayama has injected two-point five million yen or 175-thousand Solomon dollars to establish the scholarship program.

Mr Nakayama of Japan has been traveling to the Solomon Islands for many years under a program funded by his government to collect remaining bones of fallen Japanese soldiers of the Second World War.

His own father had died during the war.

In announcing the establishment of the scholarship fund Mr Nakayama said he often visits the Solomon Islands under a project to collect the remaining bones of those who died in the battle.

He says he decided to establish a scholarship fund to show his deepest gratitude to Solomon people who, despite having also suffered greatly from the war, continue to support the Japanese bone collection program.

The eleven student beneficiaries are from St Joseph Tenaru, White River Community High School, Visale Community High School, Mbokona Community High School and St Nicholas Community High School.

Source: Solomon Islands Broadcasting Cooperation (SIBC)