‘Blooming Smiles’ by Blue Lanka Tours comes to Kakulbendidigiliya Primary School

Blue Lanka Tours, Sri Lanka’s award-winning destination management company, recently took its ‘Blooming Smiles’ project to Kakulbendidigiliya Primary School in Kebithigollawa, Horowpathana. Blooming Smiles is a passionate cause and the CSR arm of the company aimed at providing educational materials, equipment and supplies to schools in rural Sri Lanka. It is a pioneering charitable cause to emerge from Sri Lanka’s tourism industry.

This rural school of 25 children and seven teachers, in one of the remotest parts of Anuradhapura District, received educational supplies that will support learning and teaching. 

Blue Lanka Tours team spent time at the school, getting to know the children, staff and the community. The children performed singing and dance recitals for the guests. 

The children at the school come from impoverished families that cannot afford the essentials for their children’s education. Poverty-stricken areas like Horowpathana and Kebithigollawa often get overlooked due to their remoteness and lack of significance.

As a destination management company that has travelled far and wide on the island, Blue Lanka Tours has the unique advantage of first-hand knowledge of remote communities that need and deserve help. The team behind the Blooming Smiles project believes that first-hand experience of witnessing hardships allows them to make meaningful decisions and choices for each school and group of children. 

“We are fortunate to have met such a wonderful community and children. Their thankful smiles and graciousness were heart-warming. Spending time with them was a joy. They were delighted by our presence, too. We learned so much about their lives, talents and dreams. They were an extraordinary bunch who made a lasting impression on us. Their teachers’ dedication will nurture them into competent and skilful students,” said Blue Lanka Tours Founder and Managing Director Dinesh N. Perera. 

Horowpathana, at the edge of Anuradhapura District, borders the east and north, captivating anyone who finds it. It is rich in dense jungles, forested hills, ancient ruins, rare wildlife, lush paddy fields and ancient irrigation systems. The people are friendly, generous and kind. However, their lives can improve with a helping hand.

Speaking about the project, Dinesh N. Perera said: “Local farming communities in rural Sri Lanka often face hardships, yet they are the backbone of our national economy. So, in a way, this is our way of acknowledging and thanking their hard work and dedication to traditional farming. There’s no limit to what a child can achieve when given the chance. And we want to offer that chance to as many children as possible at every opportunity. After all, ‘it takes a village to raise a child’.”

Elaborating on the vision behind Blooming Smiles, he said, “Despite challenges, education is a way forward. It is a priority concern for most families. Almost all children aspire to higher education and solid future careers, regardless of their circumstances. Their tenacity and determination are inspiring. Investing in their education means a brighter future for the next generation and the nation. We will continue our mission to bring Blooming Smiles to schools that need assistance no matter how remote they are. Empowering children and teachers with educational supplies makes a huge difference in their lives. It makes learning and teaching so much easier.”

The next leg of Blooming Smiles headed over to Nutbourne Tamil Vidyalaya in Dayagama. Dayagama is one of the remotest villages in the Central Hills, nestled at the far end of the Agarapatana Valley.