Tenwatte School gets budu medura

The villagers of Tenwatta at Nakkala, a remote village off Monaragala earn their living by cultivation. Many youth had opted to join the Army and had died in battle.

Looking out to help a remote school with minimum facilities, the Dharmadeepa Foundation found Tenwatta school with its student population of 155 a worthy cause. It is a government junior school with a staff of 20. Students though keen on their studies could not afford even the basic school requirements. They did not have a 'budu medura' to worship before starting their day.

"We had decided to help a school to commemorate the fourth death anniversary of Madihe Pannaseeha Maha Nayaka Thera and this was an ideal place," says Ven. Talalle Chandakitti Thera, Patron of the Foundation. "Since the project suited the ideals of the Maha Nayaka Thera we decided to embark on it."

The opening of the 'budu medura' was marked by other activities. A medical camp was held with medical personnel from Colombo examining hundreds of patients with various ailments. Medicine was also distributed free of charge.

School materials were distributed among all the 155 children. They were given school bags, uniforms, pens, pencils, exercise books and other material. Books were donated to the school library. Sports goods were also given for school use. The Dharmadeepa Foundation also donates a house to a needy family every year in memory of Ven. Gangodawila Soma Thera.