Seylan Bank, the Bank with a Heart, achieved another significant milestone recently in its commitment to encourage young minds to learn and read, and raise the nation’s literacy. The inauguration of the 286th Seylan Pahasara Library at Thiththawelgolla Junior College, Dambulla took place on 14, October 2025 as part of the 'Seylan Pahasara Week'.
The accomplishment became the latest chapter of the Bank’s pioneering learning initaitive and a step closer to its ambitious target of establishing 300 fully-equipped school libraries by 2026.
The 286th Seylan Pahasara Library Opening Ceremony was graced by, Jananda Ratnayake, Regional Manager, North Central Region, Seylan Bank as Chief Guest, and Ranjith Siriwardena, Director, Zonal Education Office, Department of Education. Also present on the occasion were the Principal, Thiththawelgolla Junior College, W. M. Vatsala Deepani Warnakulasuriya, teachers and children, representing the school, and Visakan Gnanasundaram, Manager, Brand Marketing and Nalin Karunaratne, Chief Marketing Manager, representing Seylan Bank.
In a unique approach to the library opening, Seylan Bank also organized 'Seylan Pahasara Week' from October 8-14, featuring five days of diverse programs designed to engage students, parents, and the school community.
With the support of the Ministry of Education, the Seylan Pahasara School Library Project has proudly championed its mission, serving schools and communities for more than twelve years. Through the project, the objective of Seylan Bank, the Bank with a heart, is to elevate the literacy levels of Sri Lankan students, instil in them a lifelong love for books and encourage reading as a foundation for learning, ultimately contributing to the growth of a more informed and enlightened nation.
Accordingly, Seylan Bank undertakes to construct or modernize school libraries, equip schools with essential resources and materials that may be lacking, and upgrade educational facilities to ensure students have access to a quality learning environment.
The Chief Guests at the opening ceremony of the 286th Seylan Pahasara Library symbolically presented books and also handed over two laptops and multimedia projector, a wide screen and other technical facilities to the Thiththawelgolla Junior College.
Commenting on the occasion, Shanuka Jayaratne, Assistant General Manager-Finance, Seylan Bank said, “The main goal of Seylan Bank is to build 300 fully-equipped school libraries by 2026. We believe that each school library we open will enlighten thousands of Sri Lankan children for generations to come. We view it as a social mission to cultivate the love of reading in our children who are poised to shape the future, equipping them with knowledge and wisdom, and thereby building a highly literate future generation. Through these efforts, we share a common aspiration, to see a Sri Lanka rich in knowledge emerge, and guided by positive values.”
Expressing her views on the Seylan project, W. M. Vatsala Deepani Warnakulasuriya, Principal, Thiththawelgolla Junior College, added, "If we hope for a better world tomorrow, we must place our hopes in our children and take responsibility for guiding them toward those aspirations. The modernization of our school library through the Seylan Pahasara programme, along with the generous donation of computers and multimedia equipment, plays a vital role in that mission. For this, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to Seylan Bank.”
The ‘Seylan Pahasara Week’ commenced on October 08th and continued for five days with various engaging activities. The opening day featured a drawing competition, and a cricket match for children. On the third day, a food exhibition showcased innovative culinary creations by students, highlighting the entrepreneurial potential of young minds.
The fourth day included a financial literacy programme aimed at strengthening financial awareness and management skills among both students and parents. The week concluded with the inauguration of the newly modernised school library, followed by an award ceremony where winners from the various events were honoured with certificates and prizes, celebrating their talents and participation throughout ‘Seylan Pahasara Week’.
Seylan Bank embraces the responsibility to empower Sri Lanka’s future generations with the knowledge and understanding they need to navigate a dynamic and evolving world. In line with this commitment, the Seylan Pahasara School Library Programme was launched on March 1, 2013, at Swarnapali Balika Maha Vidyalaya in Anuradhapura. Since then, the initiative has continued to expand, reaching schools islandwide and nurturing a culture of learning through access to enriched educational resources.
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