-Oct 21st, 2009
SriLankan Airlines continued its wide-ranging programmes in support of children’s education when it awarded scholarships to thirteen children of employees, who distinguished themselves at the last GCE Ordinary Level Examination.
Seven boys and six girls who obtained 8 A’s or better were presented cash awards and gift packs by the SriLankan Airlines Staff Welfare Society on 30th September at the airline’s premises in Katunayake.
Pradeepa Dahanayake, Head of Human Resources at the National Carrier, said: “Despite the challenges facing the global air transport industry to which our airline is not immune, SriLankan Airlines has done its utmost to protect our SriLankan Family during these turbulent times, and to continue its long tradition of making a tangible contribution to Sri Lankan society.”
The airline has for nearly a decade awarded three scholarships annually to the best performers at the Year 5 Scholarship Exam, and last year launched this programme for those who obtain the best results at the O-levels.
The 13 students included two each from Ananda College in Chilaw, St. Joseph’s Girls School in Nugegoda, Ave Maria Convent in Negombo, and Maris Stella College in Negombo, with the other winners being from Thakshila Central College in Horana, Ananda College in Colombo, D.S. Senanayake Madhya Maha Vidyalaya in Mirigama, Wesley College in Colombo, and De Mazenod College in Kandana.
Earlier this year, the airline launched a new programme named ‘Nena Pahan’ to provide children of employees with invaluable skills after they complete schooling.
SriLankan and its community service arm SriLankan Cares carry out a wide range of activities in support of education for children of all age groups. The airline is presently engaged in a Rs. 51 million project to construct three new buildings at Debarawewa Primary Navodaya Vidyalaya in the Hambantota District, the first of which was completed earlier this year. SriLankan also reconstructed the Tsunami devastated Al Bahriyah Maha Vidyalaya in Kalmunai in 2006, and has been supporting Meepagama Maha Vidyalaya at Kalawana in the Ratnapura District since 2003.
SriLankan also has an ongoing programme to enhance the oratory and leadership skills of children in schools around Bandaranaike International Airport in the nearby neighbourhoods of Andiambalama, Peellawatta, Kurana, and Katunayake.
Other activities include the annual distribution of schoolbooks to hundreds of the poorest school children throughout the country, and internship programmes for undergraduates of three of the country’s universities.
|
