Distributes stationery in new school term

Sri Lankan school reopens on January 4^th, and students from some poor families were facing the problem of getting new exercise books for the new term. Learning of this issue, BLIA Sri Lanka proceeded to distribute exercise books, pencils, and other school supplies to students in the Madurankuliya village, about 140km north of Colombo, at the Sri Saranakararamaya temple on the morning of December 24^th, 2008.

The function was co-organized by the Sri Saranankararamaya Dhamma School. Teachers and children started putting up Buddhist flags around the temple and the dhamma hall a day earlier; and on the morning of the 24th, they arrived as early as seven to decorate the stage. Two hundred and eleven students from grades 1 to 9, and 78 preschool children were excited and happy that their worries were solved. This is the first effort to distribute exercise books to students in poor villages; others will follow when required.

After lunch, accompanied by the temple supporters, the BLIA group visited seven below poverty families and distributed used clothing and stationery for their children.