Bandarawela, Badulla — Under the international theme "Everyone has the right to education," the Special Mission (SMM) of the International Human Rights Commission (IHRC), alongside the Shri Hela Cultural Collaboration Foundation (SHCCF) and the Shri Hela Higher Education Academy, launched a series of free Tamil-medium educational seminars for students appearing for the 2024 G.C.E. Ordinary Level (O/L) examinations.
The initiative specifically targets 1,275 children from low-income plantation community families across 20 schools in the region, bridging economic hardships with quality exam preparation.
Comprehensive Support Across Seven Educational Centers
Speaking on the initiative, Dr. Chrishantha J.K.M. Dissanayake, Sri Lankan Commissioner of the IHRC and Founder / President / Director General of SHCCF, stated that the program operates across seven designated centers in collaboration with the Bandarawela Education Zone.
Beyond subject awareness, the IHRC and SHCCF are acting as direct personal advocates for these rural schools to ensure that vulnerable children receive equal learning opportunities and personal development support.
Inaugural Mathematics Seminar at B/ Bharathi Tamil Vidyalaya
The inaugural seminar in the series took place on March 29, 2024, focusing on Mathematics at B/ Bharathi Tamil Vidyalaya, Dyaraba Mirahawatta, within the Bandarawela Education Zone in Uva Province.
Addressing the participating students, Mr. Subramaniyam Prabakar, IHRC SMM Regional Volunteer Coordinator and Director of Public Relations & National Organizer for SHCCF, reassured students of the organizations' enduring commitment to their educational journey, urging them to sit for their exams with confidence.
Recognition of Excellence & Key Resource Persons
During the launch event, 15 talented children of plantation worker families were honored with Special Certificates of Appreciation. The recognition was jointly awarded by the IHRC, SHCCF, Shri Hela Higher Education Academy, Lanka Human Rights Organization, All Christian Rights Protection Organization, Sri Lankan Youth Api Foundation, and Kuveni Woman and Children Rights Protection Foundation.
The seminar featured expert resource persons and administrators, including:
Mr. Rajarathnam Senturan (Veteran Mathematics Consultant & Resource Person)
Mr. Devendarasabapathi (JP) (Principal, B/ Bharathi Tamil Vidyalaya)
Mr. Ravichandran (Resource Person)
Mr. Subramaniyam Prabakar (IHRC Coordinator & Uva Zonal Director, SHCCF) along with the dedicated teaching staff of B/ Bharathi Tamil Vidyalaya.
Upcoming Subject Coverage
The coalition announced that upcoming seminars in the series will cover core O/L subjects including Tamil Language, English Language, Science, Mathematics, and Information Technology (IT), conducted by veteran educational advisors and subject specialists.
