Commercial Bank donates an IT lab to Welikada prison

Friday, 31 August 2012 00:25 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The latest beneficiaries of Commercial Bank’s flagship CSR initiative to enhance IT education in Sri Lanka are the inmates of the Welikada prison.

The Bank donated computers, UPS units, speakers and computer tables and chairs to the prison on a request made by its Superintendent, Gamini Jayasinghe.

Arrangements have been made for computer classes to be conducted between 8.30a.m. to 4.30p.m., six days a week by a prison welfare officer who is experienced in conducting IT training programmes, the Bank said.

The new IT lab was ceremonially inaugurated by Minister of Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms Chandrasiri Gajadeera.

Commercial Bank Deputy General Manager – Marketing Hasrath Munasinghe said, “When making this donation, the Bank was mindful of the fact that prisoners are humans too. Inmates who undergo this training will have a better chance to find a livelihood after they serve their terms.”

Persons selected for the IT course conducted at the prison would be under the age of 35, have completed their education up to GCE Ordinary Level and be serving a term of less than five years.

Currently, a group of 10 inmates are following the course and the prison aims to train 100 inmates in the next six months, a spokesman said.

He also disclosed that requests have been made to national training authorities to get qualified trainers to conduct the IT courses as well as to issue certificates to those who complete the courses successfully.

The Commercial Bank’s CSR Trust was established in 2004 and presently focuses mainly on projects aimed at uplifting standards of IT and English education. The Trust commenced with a start up capital of Rs. 25 million and the bank contributes up to 1% of its profits every year. To date the Bank has donated more than 50 IT labs to schools and other institutions.