16 December 2016 12:00 am
Recognizing the powerful ability of books and libraries to enrich and empower the lives of school children, HNB continued its groundbreaking work expanding the ‘Nena Pubuduwa’ programme with the donation of two new libraries to rural schools in Sri Lanka.
Designed to assist rural schools establish and maintain libraries of good quality, ‘Nena Pubuduwa’ has played a vital role in establishing, supporting and maintaining 200 libraries in rural schools across Sri Lanka to date.
Commenting on the importance of the CSR initiative, HNB CEO Jonathan Alles said, “The school library is the heart of a school, which itself has learning at its core. A library will allow the reader’s imaginations to run free, introduce him to new experiences and promote access to knowledge and delight. It is important for the school children to become independent users of information, develop the skills to learn how to find information, how to select what is relevant and how to use them in the best way to fulfil their own thirst for knowledge.”
The main objectives of ‘Nena Pubuduwa’ are to improve literacy levels, stimulate a continuous passion for reading and learning, improve English literacy, opening up the opportunities for higher education and employment. It also works to promote international and inter-cultural understanding and awareness. HNB believes in the sustainability of these projects and thus continues to support and facilitate the teaching and learning activities of the school, by adding to the collection of books each year.
Commemorating the children’s month, the bank opened two more ‘HNB Nena Pubuduwa’ libraries in Sri Sudharshana Vidyalaya, Welipothyaya, Panamura and Kosgama Maha Vidyalaya, Madulkelle. These schools libraries were provided with new furniture and other facilities to provide a comfortable reading environment for the pupils.
The opening of Sri Sudharshana Vidyalaya, Welipothyaya, Panamura was held recently under the patronage of HNB Regional Head Uva Sabaraganuwa Region Shiral Perera.
A set of books were ceremonially handed over to Sri SudarshanaVidyalaya Principal Sarath Thilakaratne in the presence of Assistant Zonal Director of Education, Embilipitiya Iresha Thelasinghe. HNB Embilipitiya Customer Centre Manager Ajith Thotawatta and staff from HNB Head Office Sustainable Business Unit were also present at the opening ceremony.
Nena Pubuduwa school library in Kosgama Maha Vidyalaya, Madulkelle was opened by HNB Kandy Customer Centre Senior Manager Niluka Amarasinghe in the presence of HNB Kandy Customer Centre Senior Manager Designate Suranga Pieris. The ceremonial handover of books to Kosgama Maha Vidyalaya Principal P.S. Gunawansha took place in the presence of Zonal Educational Office Coordinator Schools P. Pihilianga.