Sri Lanka Telecom, the nation’s communications powerhouse is proud to announce its employees’ initiative to help innocent children of our nation, who were war victims, by providing essential educational material and cash deposits for their future requirements. The main objective behind this programme with the theme, "Apey Daruwo", organized by the ‘Sri Lanka Telecom Employees’ Alliance for harmony & co-existence’ was to restore their childhood, which was stolen by the war.

The employees of Sri Lanka Telecom presented scholarships to 50 children aged between 5 and 16 years, who were victims of the war, at an official ceremony held recently at the Sri Lanka Telecom Head Quarters premises. Amongst those present at the ceremony was, Mrs. Leisha De Silva Chandrasena, Chairperson of Sri Lanka Telecom, Mr. Greg young, CEO of Sri Lanka Telecom, Major General Palitha Fernando - Chairman of Ranaviru Seva Adikariya, Major General Aruna Jayathilaka, Mr. D.M.S. Abayagunawardana – Commissioner, Department of Probation & Child Care Services, Mr. Anura Weerasinghe - Product Manager of Product & Development Banking Division, Bank of Ceylon and W.N.P. Surawimala – Chief Manager, Bank of Ceylon Bambalapitiya Branch.

A gift pack which included a school bag, shoes, books as well as other essential school material was distributed to each of the 50 children and a fund was created at Bank of Ceylon, as a fixed deposit account, for these 50 children where Rs. 25,000/- was deposited for each child. Sri Lanka Telecom will remain as custodians of this fund until the children reach 18 years of age when they will be able to make use of the cash. Proceeds were collected for this fund by inviting contributions from all employees of Sri Lanka Telecom to donate Rs. 100/- per month from their salaries for a period of one year from June 2009 to June 2010.