Hemas Piyawara opens 48th preschool in Vavuniya

Piyawara touched the lives of the children in Ma h aka ch ch ako di ya, an underserved community in the Vauviniya District, with the construction of its 48th preschool and added another Piyawara preschool to the national network.

The school was donated by Sunil Malawana his wife; it was constructed by the Sri Lanka Army.

Present at the opening ceremony were Sunil Malawana, his wife, members of the clergy, senior Army officials, government officials, Hemas officials and the families from the community.

Addressing the community Malawana emphasized the importance of preschool education and early childhood care and development in Sri Lanka. He also thanked the Sri Lanka Army for their commitment and building the school in a short period of three months.

Initiated in 2002, the Piyawara project was launched in partnership with the Children’s Secretariat of the Women and Child Affairs Ministry. The project aims to enrich the lives of underprivileged children of Sri Lanka focusing on key aspects within the framework of early childhood care and development, providing a holistic approach to preschool education.

At present, the 47 ‘Piyawara’ preschools across the country have over 115 teachers and over 3500 children attending them daily.

Piyawara, the flagship community project of Hemas, stands today as a successful and a sustainable initiative demonstrating the success of government-private sector partnerships in addressing national issues and creating strong communities.

48th Piyawara preschool in Mahakachchakodiya, Vavuniya

Vauvniya South Divisional Secretary M.S. Janaka, Wanni Security Forces Commander Major General Kumudu Perera, General Manager Corporate Communications and Sustainability/hemas Outreach Foundation Executive Director Shiromi Masakorala, and Sunil Malawana and his wife and General Officer Commander 56 Division Major General Prabath Dematampitiya after opening the preschool

General Officer Commander 56 Division Major General Prabath Dematampitiya, Vauvniya South Divisional Secretary M.S Janaka, Wanni Security Forces Commander Major General Kumudu Perera, General Manager Corporate Communications and Sustainability/hemas Outreach Foundation Executive Director Shiromi Masakorala and Sunil Malawana and his wife outside Piyawara preschool