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From left (1st row): Primary Principal M.K.G.P. Pushpalatha, Deputy Principal Dilanthi Godakanda, Deputy Principal Renuka Priyanthi, Principal Chandani Batagoda, Hettigoda Group Chairman/Managing Director Asoka Hettigoda, Deputy Principal Bhagya Usgoda Arachchi, Deputy Principal Kumari Jayasinghe. (2nd row): Hettigoda Group Director Wasantha Ariyathilaka, Hettigoda Group IT Manager Nuwan Ranawaka
Dreams and aspirations of a scholarship for a full year of higher studies were fulfilled for yet another batch of young students at Janaadhipathi Balika Vidyalaya, Galle last week. At the school’s annual Diri Daru scholarship award ceremony, on 7 September at the school’s auditorium, a team from Hettigoda Group, led by their Chairman Asoka Hettigoda, presented scholarships to 30 students.
Hettigoda Group has fully sponsored more than 500 numbers of scholarships during the past 17 years. An eagerly awaited and much valued annual school event, the ceremony was attended by the Principal Chandani Batagoda, Primary Principal, two Vice Principals, staff, students of the school and their parents.
Siddhalepa Diri Daru scholarship launched in 2007, evaluates the eligibility of the students in the application process for scholarships on criteria developed by a team from the Hettigoda Group. Criteria for selecting the best overall students, include recognising leadership skills, high achievers in examinations, sports and extracurricular activities to motivate students to excel in their future studies.
Originally named Anula Devi Balika Vidyalaya, the school in Galle was completely devastated in the December 2004 Tsunami and rebuilt under ‘Project Sri Lanka’ Tsunami Reconstruction Venture with an investment of Rs. 140 million. Today Janadhipathi Balika Vidyalaya is a fully equipped school with over 3000 girls.
“Our Group’s commitment towards our future generation will continue unabated in future years, despite the country going through its most severe economic crisis right now, negatively impacting all businesses, affecting their bottom lines and their resources for CSR projects,” Group Chairman Asoka Hettigoda said.
Following the early direction and commitment towards Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives by the Group’s Founder and late Chairman Deshabandu Ayur Dr. Victor Hettigoda (LittD) who initiated the Group’s first CSR activity during the Sri Paada season, the Group continues this unbroken tradition for over 40 years and has expanded its CSR initiatives to most of the country’s leading places of worship.
School herbal garden project is another green initiatives of the group which encourage schoolchildren to grow and learn the value of indigenous plants. The annual art exhibition titled the Kekulu National Art exhibition has also grown in propensity over the years to be established as an important national program to discover and encourage young talent across schools in the outstations.
Siddhalepa also conducts an annual school bag donation program at the Sri Dharmarama Maha Vidyalaya, Ratmalana.
Associated with the Chairman at the awards ceremony were Siddhalepa team members Hettigoda Group Director Wasantha Ariyathilaka and Hettigoda Group IT Manager Nuwan Ranawaka.
