SriLankan presents school books to 2,500 children in Hambantota

SriLankan Cares, the charity arm of SriLankan Airlines, presented school books to 2,500 of the neediest children in the poorest villages of the Hambantota District recently.

This was part of the National Carrier’s annual book distribution campaign which has now completed its fifth year.

The 24,000 books were presented well in time for the start of the next school year in January to children of all ages in a dozen schools.

Head of Corporate Communications at SriLankan, Chandana de Silva said: “We at SriLankan Airlines are proud to do our part in uplifting the education of children throughout Sri Lanka. We urge other private and public sector corporate organisations to come forward and make their presence felt in such worthy causes.”

The schools are located in villages such as Angunakolawewa, Pahala Andara Wewa, Abhayapura, Kethsirigama, Beralihela, Udamatthala, Pahalattala, Gonnoruwa, Kudagampaha, and Thelulla.

The airline also gifted a digicam to one school - Pallemalala School - and toys to children under three years at a village clinic.

SriLankan and its charity arm SriLankan Cares have made the education of children their priority in community service activities.

It re-built a Tsunami-ravaged school, Al Bahriya Maha Vidyalaya, in the eastern town of Kalmunai, teaming up with its business partners Lufthansa Technik and HelpAlliance to raise the Rs. 75 million funding.

Four years ago SriLankan adopted Meepagama Jayanthi Maha Vidyalaya in the flood-stricken Ratnapura district, and completely transformed the school with new buildings and modern amenities such as computer labs and a library.

The airline also works closely with several universities to promote the career development of undergraduates, and also annually gifts school supplies to thousands of children in the neediest schools throughout the country.