Commercial Bank’s CSR Trust donates milestone 150th IT Lab
Saturday, 22 November 2014 00:00
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Beligamuwa Kanishta Vidyalaya Galewela the latest beneficiary of nation-wide IT education program
The CSR Trust of Commercial Bank achieved a significant milestone under its nationally-scaled IT education program, when it donated its 150th fully-equipped IT laboratory to a school in Galewela in the Matale district.
The 150th IT lab donated by the bank was ceremonially inaugurated by Commercial Bank Chairman Dharma Dheerasinghe at Beligamuwa Kanishta Vidyalaya, Galewela, which has a student population of 200.
The IT Lab has four computers, accessories and furniture. All computer laboratories donated by Commercial Bank’s CSR Trust are equipped with brand new computers with licensed software. The schools are also provided accessories such as computer tables, printers and chairs, and the bank provides assistance to maintain and upgrade these computer labs when necessary to ensure that the facilities benefit many batches of students.
Speaking at the presentation of the IT Laboratory to the school, Dheerasinghe commented that the objective of the bank is to develop a future generation fully conversant in IT. “We started this initiative with the aim of improving the IT knowledge of the future generations and have reached our 150th milestone in this journey, which is a remarkable achievement,” he said. He also stated that the bank is committed to create opportunities for the rural school children through IT and English education.
Commercial Bank’s IT Education program is designed to empower younger generations and the country to face the future with confidence with world-class knowledge. The program shares synergy with the bank’s vision of being the most technologically-advanced, innovative and customer- friendly financial services organisation in Sri Lanka.
The bank’s IT education program has to date benefited more than 150,000 students in schools across the country.
The bank has also commenced the second phase of its IT education program by implementing an on line learning program via the IT laboratories it has donated. More than 50,000 children from 50 schools are now accessing carefully selected mathematics and science lessons via a specially created web platform, to supplement their regular lessons in these subjects.
Commercial Bank contributes a percentage of its post tax profits annually to its CSR Trust, established in 2004 with a start up capital of Rs. 25 million. The bank defines the overall goal of its CSR policy as ‘to generate measurable and sustainable social dividends for different segments of society, in particular those which require empowerment and enrichment’.
Other initiatives of Commercial Bank’s CSR Trust include presenting scholarships and laptops to undergraduates, providing English education to rural school children, supporting healthcare projects around the country, supporting facilities for war heroes, and funding projects for the preservation of culture and heritage.
