Navy ushers new hope to children of Kelinkanda Janapadaya Primary School in Kalutara

Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne declared open navy-improved facilities at the Kelinkanda Janapadaya Primary School in Agalawatta of Kalutara District today (07th October 2021). Thus, the Navy vested renovated classroom buildings, plumbing, safety fences, sanitary facilities, playground and other facilities with the children of the school.

Going by the concept of developing schools with less facilities in each Naval Command, in parallel with the 70th anniversary of the Sri Lanka Navy, this particular Naval Social Responsibility (NSR) Project was set in motion at Kelinkanda Janapadaya Primary School by Western Naval Command. Accordingly, infrastructure development at the school premises got underway commencing from 19th April 2021.

The construction and renovation work at the school was brought to expeditious completion largely due to the skilled labour and industrial expertise of the men from the Western Naval Command and members of the naval family made their generous contribution from their monthly salaries for this benevolent deed. Accordingly, all the dilapidated classroom buildings and administrative buildings which had not been repaired for many years were completely renovated with the contribution of the Navy. Apart from that, a new building was constructed at the school premises for administrative purposes. Besides, the school's multi-purpose building was furnished with computers, computer tables and a public address system while completely renovating the teachers’ rest room. The school playground, which had received poor maintenance for long time was fully developed and the amusement equipment at the children's playground were renovated with an erection of a safety fence encircling them. Moreover, the Navy also constructed a security fence and a main entrance to the school and installed a security camera system as well. Further, the unsafe electrical wiring system and equipment of the school were repaired with the assistance of the Navy and the plumbing was re-laid with new fittings to facilitate the drinking water requirement of the children.

Moreover, the Navy went on renovate the shrine room of the school as well as improving the landscape of the school, to create a more serene environment for the students at their second home.

Following the opening of school infrastructure and other facilities, Commander of the Navy presented school supplies to a group of school children as well.

Commenting on the occasion, the Principal of the College, Mr. KV Nandasena mentioned about the attempts being made almost six years to make provisions to repair the dilapidated buildings of Kelinkanda Janapadaya Primary School, which has 58 primary school children, belonging to the most rural school classification in the Mathugama Zone. Therefore, on behalf of the children, staff and parents he expressed their gratitude to Commander of the Navy and entire naval family for their invaluable contribution in developing facilities and infrastructure at the school, to create a better teaching-learning environment for the students to pursue their education with greater peace of mind.

In the same vein, school facilities developed by the Eastern, Northern and Northwestern Naval Commands have already been vested in the students under this School Development NSR project, in view of the 70th anniversary of the Sri Lanka Navy. Meanwhile, the Navy is determined to hand over a few more schools of which construction and renovation is currently under way in full swing, in rest of the Naval Commands. Addressing the naval personnel who involved in this school development project, Commander of the Navy heaped praise on them for the job well done.

The arrangements of the event were held adhering to COVID-19 protocols in force for the prevention of the spread of the pandemic. Commander Western Naval Area, Rear Admiral Upul De Silva, Naval Assistant to Commander of the Navy and Supervising Officer of Navy School Development Project, Rear Admiral Sujeeva Senaviratne, Deputy Area Commander Western Naval Area, Commodore Suresh De Silva, Commanding Officer SLNS Rangalla, Captain Rohan Joseph, Zonal Director of Education – Mathugama, Mr. Lal Dissaanayake, the Principal of the school, Mr. Mr. KV Nandasena staff and a limited number of the school children, as well as a small group of naval personnel of Western Naval Command, were present on this occasion.