Rotary Club of Colombo Port City Leads Rs. 23 Million Educational Recovery Initiative in Anuradhapura

Rotary Club of Colombo Port City Leads Rs. 23 Million Educational Recovery Initiative in Anuradhapura

Photographs of the school projects and community activities. Credit: Hiru News.

In Anuradhapura District, three school recovery projects led by the Rotary Club of Colombo Port City (RCPC), District 3220, have brought renewed support to educational facilities affected by Cyclone Ditwah. With a combined investment of approximately Rs. 23 million, the initiatives focus on restoring school buildings, improving resilience to potential future flooding and supporting inclusive learning.

The projects were carried out by RCPC in coordination with the Rotary Club of Anuradhapura. They were supported by Fairfax Canada / Fairfirst Insurance Ltd. and Belgian donors Dr. Guido and Dr. Anne Leysens, bringing together international contributors and Sri Lankan Rotary service around a shared purpose: helping children’s education continue after a disaster.

The three initiatives covered A/Dammadinna School in Galkulama, facilities for children with special needs at Walisinha Harischandra School, and Kala Oya Visaka Preschool. Their different scales and settings reflect the range of needs addressed, from work across several school buildings to improvements designed to support children requiring additional learning assistance.

Strengthening facilities at A/Dammadinna School

The largest project was the Rs. 16 million renovation of A/Dammadinna School in Galkulama, sponsored by Fairfax Canada / Fairfirst Insurance Ltd. Completed within five months, the work involved renovating five school buildings and incorporating improvements intended to strengthen their resilience against potential future flood damage.

The project benefits nearly 850 students from rural communities in the surrounding area. For a school serving children from across those communities, the condition and resilience of its buildings are important to the continuity of everyday learning. The project’s focus on both renovation and flood resilience recognises that recovery involves not only restoring facilities, but also preparing them to better withstand future challenges.

The reported work gives practical form to that aim, while the school’s reach makes the investment significant for a large number of local students and families.

Supporting inclusive learning at Walisinha Harischandra School

Fairfax Canada / Fairfirst Insurance Ltd. also sponsored a Rs. 5 million project at Walisinha Harischandra School, described as Anuradhapura’s largest government school by student population, with more than 6,000 students.

Completed within four months, the project centred on renovating the building dedicated to children with special needs and providing essential equipment to support their learning and development. By addressing a specific learning environment within a large school, the project places accessible education alongside the broader task of restoring school infrastructure.

A dedicated facility and suitable equipment can help create a more supportive setting for students with additional needs. The initiative’s emphasis on inclusive education therefore forms an important part of the wider recovery effort, alongside the work to improve buildings and reinforce their resilience.

Restoring a preschool in Kala Oya

The third initiative restored Kala Oya Visaka Preschool after it was damaged by Cyclone Ditwah. Sponsored by Dr. Guido and Dr. Anne Leysens of Belgium, the Rs. 1.8 million renovation was completed within three months and improved the learning environment for 30 young children.

Preschool provides an early setting for children to learn and take part in structured activities. Restoring this facility helps maintain access to a learning space for the young children it serves, while the project’s completion adds a community-level element to the wider programme of school recovery.

Across the three projects, the reported investments total Rs. 22.8 million, rounded to approximately Rs. 23 million. Together, the work covers larger school buildings, specialist facilities and early learning, reflecting an approach that responds to different educational needs within the affected communities.

A partnership in service of education

The programme also illustrates how support from different countries can be put to work through local service organisations. Fairfax Canada / Fairfirst Insurance Ltd. supported the two larger school projects, while Dr. Guido and Dr. Anne Leysens of Belgium sponsored the preschool restoration. RCPC implemented the work in coordination with the Rotary Club of Anuradhapura.

That partnership connects overseas generosity with local knowledge and delivery. The projects were directed towards specific schools and facilities, with defined budgets and completion periods, and with outcomes focused on educational continuity, disaster resilience and more accessible learning opportunities.

Rtn. Mahen Kariyawasan, President of the Rotary Club of Colombo Port City, said: ‘These projects reflect our commitment to rebuilding communities and ensuring that every child has access to a safe, supportive learning environment. We are deeply grateful to our generous donors and the Rotary Club of Anuradhapura for partnering with RCPC to turn this vision into a lasting impact.’

His statement captures the central purpose of the programme: rebuilding in ways that keep children’s learning in view. The work at A/Dammadinna School addresses both restoration and future flood resilience; the Walisinha Harischandra School project supports children with special needs; and the Kala Oya Visaka Preschool renovation helps restore an early learning environment.

AI-generated illustration. It is not a photograph of the schools or people involved in the reported projects.

The combined projects represent an investment in educational continuity, disaster resilience and accessible learning opportunities for children in affected communities. RCPC’s stated aim is to help ensure that disaster-related damage does not disrupt children’s education, while enabling schools and communities to rebuild safer and more inclusive learning environments.

For readers in Sri Lanka and overseas who support community causes, the initiative offers a clear example of coordinated service: international donors provided funding, Sri Lankan Rotary clubs organised and implemented the work, and schools and children are at the centre of the intended benefits. Its significance lies not only in the total investment, but also in the attention given to different stages and needs of education.

Source: Hiru News, Rotary Club of Colombo Port City leads Rs. 23 Mn educational recovery initiative in Anuradhapura. Project information credited to the Rotary Club of Colombo Port City, District 3220 (Rotary District 3220).

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