CDB supports University of Peradeniya with a LKR 40 million investment to restore and modernize critical IT infrastructure damaged by Cyclone Ditwah, creating a new AI-enabled learning environment for more than 15,000 students.
CDB supports University of Peradeniya with upgraded AI and IT infrastructure
Citizens Development Business Finance PLC (CDB) has inaugurated the CDB Elevate AI Zone at the University of Peradeniya, marking one of the largest recent investments by a corporate entity in the university and strengthening access to modern digital learning infrastructure.
The newly established facility includes a fully equipped main server room, an upgraded IT laboratory, an AI laboratory fitted with high-end computers, and a furnished seminar room. The investment comes after the university’s existing IT laboratory sustained significant damage following Cyclone Ditwah, disrupting access to essential computing facilities for students.
The initiative allows the university to restore critical infrastructure while moving beyond simply replacing damaged equipment. CDB has used the opportunity to introduce modern, AI-enabled technology designed to support students as they continue their academic and professional development in an increasingly digital economy.
For a large student population, reliable access to computing infrastructure has become an important component of higher education. The disruption caused by the cyclone therefore created challenges extending beyond physical damage to the university’s facilities, particularly for students whose coursework and academic activities depend on access to computers, networks and digital resources.
By rebuilding and upgrading the facility, CDB has sought to address that gap while providing students with a more advanced environment than the one that existed before the disaster. The CDB Elevate AI Zone is now operational and accessible to students, restoring their access to essential IT resources while introducing dedicated facilities for artificial intelligence-related learning.
CDB Managing Director/CEO Mahesh Nanayakkara said the company viewed the project as an opportunity to restore what had been lost while creating something better for the university community. He emphasized the importance of education as an investment in Sri Lanka’s future and highlighted CDB’s commitment to supporting communities during periods of need.
The investment also forms part of CDB’s broader Socially Conscious strategic pillar, under its Community Impact focus area and specifically its Education & Literacy initiative. The company said the programme reflects its long-standing focus on improving equitable access to education and digital learning infrastructure across Sri Lanka.
The decision to combine restoration with technological modernization is particularly relevant as artificial intelligence and digital skills become increasingly important across industries. For university students, exposure to modern computing infrastructure and AI-enabled learning tools can provide opportunities to develop capabilities that are increasingly relevant to future employment and entrepreneurship.
CDB supports University of Peradeniya through the project not only by addressing the immediate consequences of Cyclone Ditwah, but also by contributing to the university’s longer-term digital learning capacity. The initiative demonstrates how corporate investment can complement public and educational institutions when critical infrastructure requires rapid restoration and modernization.
University of Peradeniya Vice-Chancellor Prof. Terrance Madhujith said the cyclone had created a significant gap in students’ access to essential computing facilities. He noted that CDB’s response restored the damaged infrastructure while providing students with a considerably more advanced learning environment.
According to the university, the project was completed well ahead of its planned completion date. Prof. Madhujith described the investment as one of the single largest investments made by a corporate entity in the University of Peradeniya in recent history, underlining the scale of the partnership.
The project also highlights the growing role of private-sector participation in strengthening Sri Lanka’s education and technology ecosystem. While universities remain central to developing the country’s human capital, partnerships with businesses can help accelerate access to specialized equipment, digital infrastructure and emerging technologies.
For CDB, the project aligns its corporate responsibility agenda with its wider focus on digital transformation and sustainable development. The company, which ranks among Sri Lanka’s four largest non-banking financial institutions, has positioned innovation, sustainability and corporate governance as key elements of its business strategy.
The CDB Elevate AI Zone therefore represents more than the replacement of infrastructure damaged by a natural disaster. It combines disaster recovery, education support and technology investment in a single initiative, giving students renewed access to facilities needed for modern academic work.
As Sri Lanka continues to expand its digital economy, investments that connect higher education with emerging technologies are likely to become increasingly important. At the University of Peradeniya, CDB’s LKR 40 million initiative provides a practical example of how corporate investment can help strengthen that transition while responding to an immediate community need.