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promptly and worked with all the Divisional Secretariats in the tsunami-hit areas to
obtain government land to build new preschools.
For the Piyawara project of the Hemas Group, securing land went smoothly due to
the PPP, whereas for many non-governmental organizations (NGOs) it was a major
hurdle which obstructed them from completing their work. In contrast, the building of
Piyawara preschools sailed along even in the turbulent post-tsunami period as it had
the nod of the ministry and the local government authorities.
Hundreds of homeless little ones were in welfare centres and Sunil and his staff along
with the Hemas team visited them.
Mobilizing the services of idle teenagers, short-term teacher training courses, as well
as parental awareness programmes had been conducted, after exhaustive discussions
between the Children’s Secretariat and the Hemas team looking into all requirements.
With the government providing the resource personnel, temporary preschools had
soon been organized within these welfare centres be it in Kalutara, Galle, Balapitiya
or Hambantota.
Ms. Indrani Sugathadasa addressing the audience at the Habaraduwa Preschool opening in 2006 (above). The clear stamp of government approval is evident when Sunil says that after two
Ms. Yamuna Perera addressing the participants at a teacher training programme (below).
decades Piyawara has proven that it is a sustainable project, embracing the whole of
Sri Lanka, from north to south and west to east.

His verdict on a very successful PPP in Sri Lanka is: “Davantha piyawarak.” (A giant
step.)

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