IT Labs damaged by last December’s floods are being restored in three Mahiyanganaya schools, giving rural students renewed access to computers, practical technology education and digital learning opportunities that had been disrupted by the disaster.
IT Labs restore digital learning opportunities for rural students
The initiative has been undertaken by 99x, a global product engineering company with strong roots in Sri Lanka, as part of its Corporate Relief Fund and wider efforts to support communities affected by the floods. The company partnered with the Prime Minister’s Office and SLASSCOM to help restore technological infrastructure in schools that suffered damage during the disaster.
For many rural students, a school computer laboratory is more than just another classroom. It can be the first place where they regularly use a computer, develop basic digital skills and discover an interest in technology. The loss of these facilities therefore created a significant interruption to practical learning, particularly for schools where access to technology outside the classroom is limited.
Recognising this need, 99x worked with the Prime Minister’s Office, SLASSCOM and school communities to identify schools requiring support. Three schools in Mahiyanganaya were selected for the initiative: Hebarawa Maha Vidyalaya, Bathalayaya Maha Vidyalaya and Keselpotha Maha Vidyalaya.
Over several months, teams involved in the project worked to prepare the facilities and restore the resources required for students to resume practical IT education. In July, 99x volunteers travelled to Mahiyanganaya to complete the restoration and hand over the upgraded facilities to the schools.
The project included the provision of laptops, classroom furniture and supporting infrastructure required to bring the laboratories back into operation. The restored facilities are expected to provide students with a more suitable environment to develop computer knowledge and practical skills as part of their school education.
The return of the facilities has also been welcomed by school principals and teachers, who had been unable to conduct practical IT lessons in the same way after the flood damage. Students gathered at the schools during the handover, marking the reopening of spaces that had become an important part of their learning experience.
Prasana Monohara Jayathilaka, Principal of Hebarawa Maha Vidyalaya, Mahiyanganaya, expressed appreciation for the support, saying the computers and equipment would help students improve their computer knowledge and practical skills through better learning facilities.
For 99x, the project forms part of a broader commitment to supporting communities through access to technology and knowledge. Kalana Wijesekara, Chief Developer Experience Officer representing the 99x Corporate Relief Fund, said technology can create opportunities for young people that may otherwise remain beyond their reach.
He said the intention was for the restored IT Labs to give students opportunities to learn, explore their potential and develop pathways towards future careers. The company also highlighted the wider community impact that can emerge when young people gain the skills and confidence needed to participate in an increasingly technology-driven economy.
The initiative comes at a time when digital skills are becoming increasingly important across education and employment. Access to computers and practical technology education can help students build foundational capabilities that extend beyond the classroom, from basic digital literacy to an understanding of the technologies shaping modern workplaces.
The restoration of these facilities is therefore not simply a replacement of equipment lost during flooding. It represents an effort to restore an important component of education while creating new opportunities for students in rural communities.
The work will also continue beyond the physical restoration of the laboratories. In the coming months, 99x volunteers are expected to return to the schools to conduct IT and knowledge-sharing sessions. These sessions will provide students with additional opportunities to use the new facilities and gain practical knowledge.
The company’s involvement highlights how partnerships between the private sector, government institutions and industry organisations can contribute to long-term disaster recovery. While the immediate priority following a disaster is often the restoration of essential infrastructure, rebuilding educational and technological facilities can play an equally important role in helping affected communities move forward.
For students at the three Mahiyanganaya schools, the renewed facilities provide a chance to resume practical IT education and develop skills that could influence their future studies and careers. Through the combination of restored infrastructure and continued knowledge-sharing, 99x aims to ensure that the impact of the initiative extends well beyond the reopening of the laboratories.