Seylan Bank achieves 225th milestone in empowering students through library project

‘Seylan Pahasara’ commenced a decade ago in tandem with the Bank’s 25th Anniversary celebrations with the objective of establishing libraries at deserving schools across the island. Bringing the project to successful completion, the 225th library was declared open at Dharmashoka Primary College in Maharagama, parallel to the commemoration of the Bank’s 35th Anniversary.

The opening of the library was attended by the Management of Seylan Bank headed by Seylan Bank Director/CEO Kapila Ariyarathne, Deputy CEO Ramesh Jayasekere and Chief Financial Officer Champika Dodamwala, together with Divisional Director of Education Dineshika Gunarathne. Dharmashoka Primary College Principal Chintha Perera was joined by the Vice Principals and Assistant Principal. The donation of the library incidentally took place on the 110th anniversary of the school.

Seylan Pahasara was established to transform young minds and empower their lives by elevating the standard of the overall quality of education aligned with the curriculum and co-curriculum. The initiative also promotes the habit of reading among the young, and influences them to shape their education, with a better focus to face future challenges with courage and confidence. By conceptualising sustainable development goals in the dimension of Quality Education (Goal No. 4) and fulfilling 225 libraries as promised at the outset, the bank has successfully delivered the necessary infrastructure – including personal computers and multimedia projectors based on the infrastructure  requirement, enhanced the learning content with books, and further facilitated access to virtual books, all of which are aligned to the overarching curriculum and co-curriculum, equipping students with access to quality education.

Seylan Bank CFO Champika Dodanwela who has been instrumental in championing the sustainability initiatives of the bank, commented: “Seylan Bank has entrenched itself in the hearts and minds of the people as a trusted and respected corporate entity. Our dreams for the next generation spurred us on to launch “Seylan Pahasara”, a project that would enhance literacy and encourage students to dream big and be equipped to fulfil those dreams in a pragmatic way. The project has nurtured thousands of school children across 225 schools, developing the habit of reading from a young age. We believe that literacy is at the heart of future progress, and we are proud to play such a role in equipping tomorrow’s leaders with the tools of education and learning, and also acting as a catalyst in unlocking the potential of further generations. This project is all the more special as it has brought together our staff and the officials of the beneficiary schools for a truly realised community endeavour.”

 The staff of Seylan Bank have immersed themselves in the project since its inception. The project has also engaged school authorities, parents, students, directors and higher authorities from the Education Department. As a purpose-driven CSR initiative, Seylan Pahasara has been managed prudently with continuous review and stringent directions of the Board, to ensure that the ultimate benefit is bestowed upon students.

 The project is structured in such a way that the bank donates books to existing libraries and restores libraries that are in a run-down condition in less-privileged schools island wide. When selecting schools for this project, the bank consults education officials, principals, teachers and other stakeholders to obtain qualitative and rational feedback, based on their real needs at the time. In addition, this initiative provides more opportunities for students to interact closely with the bank and augment their learning experience and familiarise themselves with banking as a future prospect.