Piyawara pre-schools focus on early childhood care and development

Piyawara added its 46th and 47th pre-school to the national network with the opening of two Piyawara pre-schools in Rambewa, Anuradhapura District and Neriyakulam, Vavuniya District.

Both schools were constructed by the Sri Lanka Army.

Initiated in 2002, the Piyawara programme was launched in partnership with the Children’s Secretariat of the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs. The programme aims to enrich the lives of underprivileged children of Sri Lanka by focusing on key aspects within the framework of ECCD.

“We applaud the commitment made recently by the Government of Sri Lanka to improve children’s learning in their early years. As a private sector entity Hemas Holdings have always believed that early childhood education is the best investment a country can make to its human capital. Understanding this need, we launched our ‘Piyawara’ initiative focusing on a holistic approach to Early Childhood Care and Development,” says Hemas Outreach Foundation Executive Director and Hemas Holdings Corporate Communications and Sustainability General Manager Shiromi Masakorala.

At present the 47 pre-schools across the country have over 115 teachers and over 3,500 children attending them daily.

“We will continue making investments into ECCD and continue assisting the Government of Sri Lanka address a national need,” she added.

Hemas team outside the pre-school in Neriyakulam

Play house at the pre-school

Lighting of oil lamp by Major General Kumudu Perera, Security Forces Commander Wanni and Steven Enderby Group CEO Hemas Holdings