CDB provides Smart Computer Labs to Eastern Province schools

CDB presented three Smart Computer Labs to schools in the Eastern Province recently. These were Mihindupura Vidyalaya in Trincomalee, Rethithenna Iqrah Vidyalaya in Batticoloa and Veppayadi Kalaimagal Vidyalayam in Ampara. These three labs now move towards the target of a total of twenty pledged for CDB’s Silver Jubilee.  
The Smart Computer Lab project was initiated fourteen years ago and has in those years, seen a total of 6,000 students primarily from rural communities benefited from the project.   However, recognizing the crucial need to build a ‘smart generation’ with greater speed, CDB fast tracked the commissioning of a total of twenty Smart Computer Labs in its 25th anniversary year.
“With digital literacy being an imperative for the country to exploit multiple global opportunities, it is the responsibility of corporate stewards like us to build a collective of tech savvy youth who will drive the nation into the next phase of development and opportunity,” said MD/CEO of CDB Mahesh Nanayakkara. 

“The CDB Smart Computer Lab project has been founded on our sustainability ethos of empowering aspirations, as tech is not just a tool for the future, but is a key driver.” 
“Our focus is for every student to have access to technology. These Smart Computer Labs ensure equality and accessibility to students even in the most difficult, rural demographic. Our aim is not just to improve access to technology and digital literacy, but to create a smarter and sustainable Sri Lanka, while moving our country towards meeting the UNSDG 4 which focuses on Quality Education,” Nanayakkara added.
The project is a collaboration with the Ministry of education and based on a selection criteria that includes the school having ICT as a subject even with limited resources and the student body represents those from economically disadvantaged families.