Navy enables remote schools to sail into brighter future

Pictures courtesy Sri Lanka Navy website

In connection with the 70th anniversary of Sri Lanka Navy, the sea-going arm of the country has launched another social responsibility initiative, under the directives and guidance of Navy Commander Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne, to develop selected underprivileged schools in the country, in 2021.

The prime motive of the project is to create a more conducive learning environment for the children – the future generation of the country. Accordingly, this project was launched in the Western, Eastern, North Central, Northwestern, Southeastern, Southern and Northern Naval Commands on April 19, 2021. Financial contribution extended voluntarily by all officers and sailors from their monthly salaries is utilized for the project, while the Navy also enables its able manpower required for the construction work.

After contributing to the success of the humanitarian operation to liberate the nation from the brutality of LTTE terrorism that battered the country for nearly three decades, the Navy throws its weight behind various development projects of the government, to help achieve the National Policy Framework ‘Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour’, by contributing the Navy’s skilled manpower and other resources.

Against such a backdrop, going by a concept of Navy Commander Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne, the Sri Lanka Navy marked the beginning of a school facility development project by embarking on a social responsibility mission to develop facilities of underprivileged schools which lack some of the basic amenities. Accordingly, in line with the 70th anniversary of the Navy, a financial allocation of Rs. 4.5 million was made available to each Naval Command to develop eight underprivileged schools, selected by seven Naval Commands islandwide to support the education of children schooling in remote areas, with meagre facilities.

Under this project, the Western Naval Command has planned to renovate four new classroom buildings, repair plumbing and toilet facilities and construct a children’s playground at Kelinkanda Primary School in Agalawatta in the Kalutara District.

Meanwhile, the Eastern Naval Command would enable the Navy’s manpower and other expertise to complete the construction of a half-completed classroom building and library building of Pansalgodella Primary School in Kantale in the Trincomalee District.

Similarly, numerous basic requirements and renovation work of Weera Mohan Jayamaha Vidyalaya, Dambulla are to be developed by the North Central Naval Command. Incidentally, delivery of new books to the school library, renovation of classrooms, improvement of toilet facilities, erection of a safety fence around the school and construction of a basketball court would also come under this development project.

The facilities of Eluwankulama Sinhala Vidyalaya in the Puttalam District, which is under the Northwestern Naval Command, will also be developed, adding a new classroom building and a laboratory building at the school premises. The move will help create a more favourable learning environment for the children who are continuing their education at the school with a lack of facilities.

In the meantime, the Southeastern Naval Command would undertake the renovation work of the dilapidated buildings, small auditorium, laboratory and computer laboratory of Hulannuge Vidyalaya in Ampara.

Meanwhile, the Southern Naval Command is to develop Sooriyawewa Weeriyagama Maha Vidyalaya and Hungama Ethbatuwa Junior School in the Hambantota District. The Navy is to construct two spacious classroom buildings for these schools, as those children are studying in temporary classrooms with roofs of tin and cadjan.

Further, the Navy Commander April 3, 2021 made an inspection visit to the Roman Catholic College on Mandaitivu Island, Jaffna, which has been selected for development in the Northern Naval Command, under this naval social responsibility project. During this visit, the Navy Commander was warmly welcomed by the Parish Priest of Catholic Church on Mandaitivu Island, Principal of the college, teachers and students. Vice Admiral Ulugetenne made the school staff aware of the developments to be carried out by the Navy at the school.

The project includes construction of a two-storied building for the library and computer laboratory, which are two dire needs of the school, partition of classrooms as well as for the provision of computers, computer chairs, tables and sports gear.

The launch events of these separate projects were attended by Western Naval Area Deputy Area Commander Commodore Suresh De Silva, Eastern Naval Area Deputy Area Commander Rear Admiral Anura Danapala, North Central Naval Area Commander Rear Admiral Sanjeewa Dias, Northwestern Naval Area Commander Rear Admiral Bandula Senarathna, Southeastern Naval Area Commander Rear Admiral Jayantha Gamage, Southern Naval Area Commander Rear Admiral Priyantha Perera and Northern Naval Area Acting Commander Commodore J.P. Premarathna, senior officers and sailors.