Selection of this remote school with 34 students for this donation was closely decided by both Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake, Commander of the Army and Mrs Chandrika Senanayake, President, Army Seva Vanitha Unit (ASVU) on the recommendations of one of the old boys in the school, Warrant Officer I, S. Jayantha (retd) who had served as a Regimental Sergeant Major at the Army Headquarters some time ago.
After an initial assessment over their most urgent needs were identified, Lieutenant Colonel Nalinda Mahawithana, Staff Officer 1 at the ASVU through his initiatives projected the requirements to the Colombo Royalty Lions Club for assistance and invited them to be a partner with the ASVU for this worthy cause.
Donors spent Rs. 200,000 for science laboratory equipment and a few more lakhs for IT equipment and computers with the internet facility. Scholarships, each to the value of Rs 1500/= were also awarded to students with special needs for a period of 3 years under this donation programme. The ASVU sponsored the purchase of musical instruments.
Adding a novel feature to the day’s programme, two coconut saplings were also gifted to 100 attendees (200 Nos) at the same occasion to be in line with the Army’s ongoing ‘Thuruliya Wenuwen Api’ project, conceptualized by the Commander of the Army. Coconut Development Board has assisted the Army for this gesture on request.Representatives of the Lions Club, Zonal Education Department officials, Principal, Teachers, Students, Parents, Old Students and well-wishers were present during the ceremony.
