New Year with New Hopes SLT-MOBITEL Powers Rathabalagama School with Digital Access

SLT-MOBITEL hosted a meaningful Sinhala and Tamil New Year celebration at Rathabalagama Kanishta Vidyalaya in Hambegamuwa, Thanamalwila, combining cultural festivities with effective digital empowerment for the rural school community. 

The initiative, part of SLT-MOBITEL's ongoing commitment to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles, delivered critical digital infrastructure and educational resources to the school, which serves approximately 300 students from the surrounding underserved communities.

SLT-MOBITEL’s goal was to celebrate the New Year with these deserving students and provide lasting resources to enhance their educational opportunities throughout the year at the same time. Bridging the digital divide in rural communities also supports SLT-MOBITEL’s dedication to investing in Sri Lanka's future generation.

Representing SLT-MOBITEL, Mr. Asitha Jayasekara, Deputy General Manager – Branding and Marketing Research, and Ms. Thilini Dhanapala, Regional Manager – Regional Telecom Office Monaragala, attended the celebration. Additionally, several other representatives of SLT-Mobitel, the school principal, teachers, and students, also attended the event. 

During the event, SLT-MOBITEL's technical team restored several non-functioning computers in the school's computer lab and established reliable internet connectivity, creating a functional digital learning environment that was previously unavailable to students. The intervention will ensure students have access to online educational resources, bridging the digital divide that often limits opportunities in rural areas.

The Sinhala and Tamil New Year celebration featured traditional rituals and games that brought students, teachers, and families from the community together. SLT-MOBITEL distributed 300 school bags containing essential educational items to all students, ensuring that each child received necessary stationary for their academic activities. The company also donated a substantial collection of books to enrich the school library's resources, supporting literacy and knowledge development.

Understanding that many of the school children have had limited exposure to digital technology, SLT-MOBITEL’s program opened new educational pathways and helped to transforms the students' learning experiences for the future. Timing the activities with New Year celebration made the effort especially meaningful for the community.

Aligning with SLT-MOBITEL's corporate vision of creating meaningful social impact while enabling digital inclusion, the initiative directly supported multiple United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including Quality Education (SDG 4), Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10), and Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17).