Citizen’s Development Business Finance PLC (CDB) has ensured access to state-of-the-art IT to disadvantaged schools across the island with the presentation of fully fledged IT laboratories under its flagship CSR programme “CDB Pariganaka Piyasa”. CDB presented a “smart classroom” as the 11th donation to Ra/Sri Saranajothi Tissa Vidyalaya located in Devipahala, Kuruwita in the Sabaragamuwa Province at an investment of LKR 1.5 Mn.
This state-of-the-art smart classroom has smart board, computers, printers, stationery, scanners, computer tables, chairs and other vital infrastructure including Internet facility.Another stimulating dynamic of these IT laboratories is that not only does it make technology literacy accessible to students, it also enables communities in proximity to these schools to avail themselves of the benefits of technology. The laboratories, therefore, have become IT knowledge hubs, making them overarching community centers for knowledge gathering for the entire community.
For Deputy CEO/CFO Damith Tennakoon, this IT laboratory pushes CDB’s objective of inclusiveness across the nation to the next level. “Our vision of becoming a financial powerhouse is inextricably linked with fostering entrepreneurial innovation and workmanship and this can only be done if our young people are developed and nurtured to take advantage of the opportunities around them. IT is a great enabler and by making technology accessible to young people across the country, CDB is empowering them to optimise on opportunities in the world around them, imperatives in CDB’s ultimate objective of building a strong and thriving nation.”
The IT laboratory was opened in the midst of a host of dignitaries including Provincial Education Director Sabaragamuwa Sepala Kuruppuarachchi, Principal of Saranajothi Tissa Vidyalaya Ashoka Udayanga, the senior management of CDB, parents and students, gathering for this milestone event that would give their school and village a competitive advantage when it comes to pursuing future dreams and goals.
Showing immense happiness at the gift his school has received which will undeniably empower his students and the surrounding community, Principal Ashoka Udayanga endorsed the advantages the entire community would garner, adding, “By making ICT skills and knowledge accessible, this IT lab is providing our entire community with multi-dimensional learning opportunities. As we all know, it is technology that drives the world today and with CDB giving us this global driver, we are now ready to exploit the opportunities that arise not just within Sri Lanka, but regionally and internationally as well.”
The “CDB Pariganaka Piyasa” programme was launched in 2007 and a total investment of LKR 13.5 Mn. has been made since then benefiting 12, 500 students.
This is an ongoing sustainability project fully integrated into the Company’s core CSR ethos and aligned with the country’s goal of aggressively pushing IT literacy to augment the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of Quality Education being accessible to all.