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SLT
spreads wealth of knowledge to students at School for the
Blind at Ratmalana
Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT), the nation’s number one integrated
communications service provider, presented Braille books to
the School for the Blind at Ratmalana, a branch of Ceylon
School for the Deaf and Blind under its book programme ‘Spreading
the Wealth of Knowledge,’ which is currently in its sixth
consecutive year. The programme is part of the long-term partnership
with the Asia Foundation in Sri Lanka to distribute a wide
range of books to libraries across the country. Leisha De
Silva Chandrasena, Chairperson of SLT, along with. Nilan Fernando,
Country Representative, The Asia Foundation, handed over the
Braille books to Lucien M C Perera, Executive Director, Ceylon
School for the Deaf and Blind.
This is the first time that a book presentation has been made
to the School for the Blind by SLT, and it is also the first
corporate entity in Sri Lanka to fill the libraries with books
in Braille. This initiative is also part of the company’s
efforts to minimise the gap between the differently-abled
community and other people in society, helping to educate
them as well as bringing in the necessary technology to enable
easier access to information.
Speaking on the significance of the book programme, Leisha
De Silva Chandrasena, Chairperson of SLT said, “SLT has
been seriously considering the ways in which we can uplift
society as a whole. This is yet another milestone for SLT
as this is the first time that our company, along with the
Asia Foundation, has bestowed books in Braille to the School
for the Blind. We hope that these books will help bridge the
gap between the differently-abled people and others, as well
as create a more conducive environment, enabling better communication
between all members of society.”
Speaking further, Lucien M C Perera, Executive Director, Ceylon
School for the Deaf and Blind said, “I am truly grateful
to Sri Lanka Telecom as well as the Asia Foundation for conferring
books to our school. This has been a heartfelt need for us
and it will go a long way in giving our students the necessary
skills and resources in developing their literacy and educational
capabilities. I hope that other corporates too, will follow
SLT’s initiative in providing resources that provide
differently-abled children with opportunities to develop themselves
into well rounded individuals that can make a contribution
to society.”
The world over, most deaf and blind people rely on technology
for communication as well as achieving independence. Information
Communication Technology (ICT) training is one of the most
effective ways in which we can assist differently-abled people,
with assistive and adaptive technology that enable them to
use a computer. With the creation of devices that produce
books, as well as others that allow people to read information
on computers and the internet in Braille, modern technology
has come a long way. These allow people who are fluent in
Braille, to complete their schoolwork, take care of personal
duties as well as work.
With the objective of ‘Spreading the Wealth of Knowledge,’
Sri Lanka Telecom and the Asia Foundation embarked on a book
programme in 2003 as a part of the foundation’s ongoing
‘Books for Asia’ initiative. Thus far, SLT has supported
by distributing more than 100,000 books per year to schools,
universities, professional institutions, libraries and other
government education institutes islandwide. The subjects are
as diverse as science, geography, art, engineering, and English
amongst others.
This is a part of the company’s continuous support of
the country’s educational institutions and its youth
to build and further develop capabilities through the provision
of books and other educational material to schools, libraries
and other learning academies which will undoubtedly enhance
the proficiency and skill levels of school children, university
students, professionals and others.
This will also allow SLT to play a catalytic role in addressing
the needs of primary, secondary, tertiary and professional
education sectors in this country. SLT, being the single largest
sponsor of this programme in Sri Lanka is committed to addressing
the needs of these sectors through this programme for the
6th consecutive year.
SLT not only helps and encourages students to improve their
skills, but this programme also helps educators to improve
their vocational and research skills. The contributions are
aimed at fostering a stronger reading culture among schoolchildren,
undergraduates, parents and the general public. SLT and the
Asia Foundation are working together to enhance child, adult
and professional education through the provision of educational
material on a variety of topics. Their joint effort gathers
books free of charge from American publishers and brings them
into Sri Lanka, to be distributed across the island. The ‘Books
for Asia’ Programme in collaboration with the Asia Foundation
has been based on our philosophy of stimulating curiosity,
fostering knowledge and improving literacy levels.
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