Cairn Lanka helps uplift rural education in Monaragala

On completion of the first phase of a programme to uplift education in the country’s rural outskirts, Cairn Lanka Ltd., in partnership with the Government, unveiled four wholly-equipped libraries at four schools in the Monaragala District last week.

The schools were those identified in the Library establishment programme, entered into between Cairn and the Government of Sri Lanka through a Memorandum of Article signed by the company earlier this year.

The setting up of libraries, which will help to create opportunities for enhanced learning comes under President Rajapaksa’s ‘Mahinda Chinthana’ programme and is also in line with Cairn Lanka’s corporate social responsibility strategy, which involves uplifting rural education. Its mother company, Cairn India, has partnered a non-governmental organisation ‘Room to Read’ with the broader perspective of developing cognitive education of rural children.

The opening of the four libraries at Thambana Primary School, Maduruketiya School, Okkampitiya Janapada Primary School and Lunugala Yodhawewa Primary School were attended by Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga and Chief Minister of the Uva Province Sashindra Rajapaksa who were Chief Guests at the ceremony. Cairn India’s Director Strategy and Business Services P. Ilango and Country Manager for Cairn Lanka Dr. Sunil Bharti were also dignitaries present at the event.

Speaking at the ceremony, Chief Guest Weeratunga said that the investment made by Cairn Lanka was significant especially considering the involvement of a private sector corporate in terms of the interest they have shown in the development of Sri Lanka’s rural education. He also said that future plans are already underfoot for the Government to establish over 1,500 libraries in rural schools islandwide to improve learning of the less privileged.

The Secretary stressed the importance of private sector involvement in such projects and said that the country’s private sector should come together in nurturing a well-educated future generation that could propel Sri Lanka towards further development.

Addressing the gathering, Ilango said that Cairn Lanka as the single operator in the country for exploration of oil and gas, was extremely happy to be part of the library programme which will add value to the education of these schools in Monaragala. He said: “I hope the students will get the best use of these libraries. Cairn’s Corporate Social Responsibility programmes have always been committed towards respect, relationships and responsibility and education has been a key aspect.” The Director also said that Cairn was honoured to tie up with the Government in this development programme to enhance education in rural schools. In the next phases of the programme the company has committed to fund another 20 libraries in schools within the Monaragala District.