Abans brings relief to woes of 6 year old student

From left: Indika de Soysa, Abans General Manager – IT Chathura Jayawardena, Abans Managing Director Behman Pestonjee Minister of Education Akila Viraj Kariyawasam and Ministry of Education Additional Secretary Hemantha Premathilake  

Last year a six year old boy from Kuliyapitiya was stigmatised and deprived of his education due a malicious rumour that his parents were infected with HIV. As this rumour spread to the parents of the children of the Kuliyapitiya School, they threatened to remove their children from the school. As a result, the authorities were forced to remove the boy from the school and had him admitted to another school.

Other schools that offered to admit the boy were found unsuitable by his parents due to the distance and the matter reached a stalemate.

The story made national headlines when the boy’s mother commenced a fast at the entrance of the Kuliyapitiya Education Office demanding that her child be granted admission to a suitable school. This caused a new surge of awareness in the matter and many NGOs and civic minded people began to take interest. A program was initiated by Director of School Nutrition and Health Renuka Peiris and new hope was found for the little boy.

A group of old boys of Trinity College, Kandy a highly reputed school in Central District, approached the Principal of Trinity College to admit this student. With the help of Minister of Education Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, the student was admitted to Trinity College, Kandy, and all educational expenses would be met by that great institution.

 Abans, a company that always seeks such opportunities to lend a helping hand with meaningful CSR initiatives, immediately came forward to bear the cost of alternate accommodation found for the boy’s family in Kandy. The entire housing rental for last year was paid in advance by Abans and this year, the cheque for the entire year’s housing rental was handed over to the Minister of Education by Abans PLC Managing Director Behman Pestonjee at the Education Ministry.