Since its commencement in December 2006, the Sabaragamuwa Province e-village project has made huge strides. Set up at the Damahana public school Balangoda, the project has widened its horizons and provided various ICT related activities to the community.
Besides surfing the internet, members in the community have learnt to use the computer for email and for general educational purposes. They are also involved in maintaining these web pages and individual blog sites. Further, this project has enabled people in the community to access information pertaining to their professions, seek new employment and business opportunities.
The project has also made available opportunities for Internet banking, money transferring, and video conferencing and Chat services.
The provision of these ICT services through the establishment of Damahana e-Village has been acknowledged to be a great achievement by the community.
The moment has now arrived for us to share our unique experience with other communities in the province. The Education Ministry under the SEMP II and EKSP Projects selected four schools from the Sabaragamuwa Province and one school from the Western Province for this purpose. They are:
Ratnapura Elapatha public school
Kalwana Rabuka public school
Dehiovita Mattamagoda Ratnaweli public school
Mawanella Dippitiya Rajagiri public school
Badureliya Kamburawela public school of the Western Province.
The initial instructions and introductory activities pertaining to this phase of the project are now being implemented. It is the aim of the project to accelerate efforts to facilitate a technological revolution within the province.
Posts tagged e village
Another Success which we received
In August 2006 a well equipped computer center was received to Damahana Maha vidyalaya in Rathnapura District. This computer center was setup with the assistance provided by the Asian Development Bank, through the Secondary Educational Modernization Project (SEMP). The unit consists of twenty computers with all its accessories. After setting up of this unit the school has made vast strides in the sphere of education in general. With the use of these computers and Internet, students are able to access vital and relevant information pertaining to their general education. In school hours we use these computers as part of our normal teaching and learning process. Besides, it serves as a useful tool to source information. During extra classes held during after-school hours students are thought how to use computers for internet exploration, English language education, and special online courses. The students have their own website and are encouraged to maintain their own blogs. As a result, now, about 180 children are blog writers. The school maintains two websites: http://www.damahana.sch.lk http://www.oasisdamahana.org These two are continuously updated. http://www.oasisdamahana.wordpress.com and http://www.damahana.schblog.lk are the two main blogs.
The successes shown here are only a very few of our achievements that outline our progress. Yet another good opportunity has come our way. The Microsoft Company has donated 500 Classmate laptops to the education department. Of these, in appreciation of all the good work done so far, the ministry allocated 20 laptops to Damahana MV. Those were received 16th Feb, 2009 by our principal Mr B. Somasiri from Hon. Mr. Susil Premajayantha, Minister of Education. With these laptops we also received wireless internet facilities.
This is the fast e-village introduced to the Sabaragamuwa Province. With the addition facility the area surrounding Damahana Maha Vidyalaya has access to WIFI technology. With the introduction of the IT Unit and all its developments our children who otherwise have very little interaction with the out side world are allowed the opportunity to expand their horizons beyond the confines of a village and explore the vast world that lies beyond.
This in turn paves the way for rural communities such as ours to interact and advance in technological, cultural, social and economical spheres among others. The rural community, in other words is exposed to other cultures and value systems which can contribute to an overall enhancement in the quality of life and ensuing challenges to be faced in the world.
OUR URL: http://www.oasisdamahana.org
e-Village Pilots on an overseas tour
With the intention of promoting the use of IT in the rural areas
of the country Of Sri Lanka, the Ministry of Education, in collaboration with
the Presidential Secretariat launched a pilot e-Village Programme,
‘Secondary Education Modernization Project II’ (SEMP II), and
funded by the Asian Development Bank.
The programme comprising many activities was, initially launched
in the Sabaragamuwa, Uva, Central, Wayaba and Southern provinces.
They are arivan to the India.
In order to further enhance the quality of project outputs, the
managers of the five pilot projects have been given the opportunity
to attend a workshop held in Baramathi, India.
Baramathi Institiut in India.
The workshop on ICT and Development that commenced on the23rd
March will conclude on the 26th.
In the conforance.
It is expected that the experience gained from this exposure will
enable the managers acquire skills that can contribute to the extension
and expansion of the services provided to the beneficiaries through the
respective projects. The knowledge gained will also help in ensuring the
future sustainability of the projects.
OUR URL : www.oasisdamahana.org
A visit from above……..
Visiting the first e-Village of the Sabaragamuwa Province in Dahamana,
Balangoda, were the project officials from SEMP II and the Education Dept.
of the Sabaragamuwa Province.
Those who came on an inspection tour on 18thMarch included Mr Nimal
Herath-SEMP II Project, Prof. W. G. Kularatne- National Productivity
Secretariat, Mr Gunatilake- Provincial Education Office and Mr W. Jayasinghe
-Director, Balangoda Zonal Education Office.
Appreci ating the work done so far, gave necessary instructions and suggestions
on ways to further expand and improve the services provided by the centre.
Receiving and welcoming the Officials
Mr. Nihal Herath inspecting the activities at the Centre
Visiters inspecting the computer e-village activities
Our URL: www.oasisdamahana.org
The Scouts and Girl guilde activities of Damahana Maha Vidyalaya
The scout team.
The scouts and girl guide companies in Damahana Vidyalaya is an excellent co-curricular activity.
These two companies have a long history.
First the scouts company was started by Mr. M.P. Abayasiri, on 20th October 1978. At the same
time his sister Miss. M.P. Piyaseeli started the First girls guide company.
Since then, camps, explorations, tours, shramadana campaigns, hikes, training camps and even 
jamborees have been held on regular basis.
After becoming the principal, Mr. Abayasiri devoted more of his spare time for improving the scout
movement. In 2000, he was appointed the district commissioner.
After his retirement Mr. Lalith Kumaratunge succeeded him as the Scouts master and continues to
serve in that capacity.
Getting their training
With his guidance a three-day camp was held at Hambegamuwa, from 26th-28th July 2006.
A mutual fun camp for both, scouts and girl guides, was held on 22nd March 2006.
Mr. Lalith is devotes his time to improve the talents of the boys by conducting art competitions, hikes,
excursions, dramas and various tours among other things. The students gain valuable experience and
life skills through these activities.
Mri Lalith kumarathunga co-ordinater
At present the girl guides company is led by Miss. M.M. Somalatha. She has served in this capacity
since the 26thFebruary 2006. A three-day camp was held for the guides, in this school, from 26th to
28th March 2006.
These girl guides participated in a district camp held at Gatangama Vidyalaya, Ratnapura, from 30th
March to April 2007.
At present, both, the scouts and the girl guides in the school, conduct their activities in a complementary
and mutually beneficial manner.
OUR URL:- http://www.oasisdamahana.org.
A community venture through Dahamana MV
Dahamana gains some historical significance by virtue of the fact that it belongs to the region where the
world famous primitive ‘Balangoda Man’, better known as ‘Balangoda Manawaya’ was discovered.
Mahawalathnna plateau and thin village is situated in delightful are.
Some say that thousand monks were ordained at one and the same time thus giving the village its name
‘Damahana’.
There are two ways to approach the village. One is via the Ratnapura-Balangoda-Kirimelithnna route.
The other is through Ratnapura-Pallebcdda and Weligcpala.
Traveling through the village, one cannot fail to notice the beautiful paddy field right in the heart of the
village.
Like the early bird that gets the worm, if lucky enough, you will see the farmers in their span cloth and
mammorty on shoulders setting off to their fields.
To fulfill the educational needs of the children in the area and to enlighten their knowledge, Damahana
Maha Vidyalaya serves as a model learning center.
The standard of education is always in a high position with extra curricular activities also taking place in
various ways. Among them scouting and girl guiding takes prominence.
Breaking new ground and keeping pace with modern technological advances in the world, a new to in
computer learning center has been opened under the Secondary Education modernization project of the
Ministry of Education. This project has been an impetus in providing the community- children and adults
alike- the opportunity to improve their computer skills and English knowledge.
By widening this series under the concept of e–village, a website was launched to provide
information about our village, not only to the island, but also to the whole world.
OUR URL:- www.oasisdamahana.org.
Dahamana Maha Vidyalaya: How It All Began……
At a time when the village lacked a school to serve the needs of the children, the village leaders led by Rev.
Panane Wimalawansa thero, gave leadership to a move to accomplish this task.
Overcoming many difficulties the initiative was taken to build a school in Dahamana a few miles from
Balangoda town on a plot of land donated by W.A. Punchi Mahathmaya.
When the school officially commenced on February 24, 1949 it only had a cadjan hut, but today a good
mix of old and modern buildings blend together to add glamour and splendour to the School.
In its 57th year of function the school now serves not only the children of Dahamana but also those
from neighbouring villages.
Panan Kanda mountain
A seen of panan kanda.
‘Pannan Kanda’ is a mountain which is situated at the village of Mawela in Balangoda area in Rathnapura districtin Sri Lanka.It is around by divisions of Galgodagama, Iluk kumbura, Panana, Gavaranhena, Velange and Mawela. It is located
above the village of Panana. Because of that reason it is named as Panan Kanda. In addition it is called ‘Kalu Kalle’
and ‘Hela Uda kalle’.
A beautiful water spring from Panan kanda.
This mountain gives births to many water springs. This area is nurtured by the branches of the Walawe River such as
Nadola Kadura, Nayini Ela, Kuda Oya and Deliniara.
Many kinds of animals can be seen in this area such as deer, monkey, moose, wild pig, and there are also jungle fowl,
haban kukula, hawk, owl, parrot, hornbill and paradise fly catcher and mynah in it. Many endemic and non endemic
trees can be seen in this area such as fesciculatum, thudarana, fambu, keena, and hora. As a result of the caves, It is
very complicated to cross through this forest.
In 2007, it has conserved by the wild conserving of department. As a result of it, the effects of the destroyers have been
regularly decreased and it helps to firm the protection of the forest. We must protect the natural forests as the Panan
Kanda and it is our responsibility.
The Visiters
A board of officers from the Austrailion embassy visited Ratnapura Damahana Maha vidyalaya
on a previous day.They followed an operation an educational system of Sri Lanka. Due
to that they visited two schools in Balangoda region, R/Damahana M.V.and an
another school .Mr.Piyasena,the director of educational participated for this opportunity
The officers were welcomed by the head
prefect of the school
They were welcomed by the starff.
Visitng the class rooms.
A discusses with the principal.
visiting the computer laboratory centre at the school
Visiting the class rooms
A discusses with the e – village students
MAWELA MONASTERY
In 1876 the village like Mawela and Mahawelatenna were in jungle. This area was sparsely populated.
During this time a Buddhist priest by name of Naginne Sumanatissa started his priesthood here and
lived in a small cadjan shed. This was published in the Dinamana News paper by a reported named
Keerthi Chandra.This pious priest inaugurated this Mawela temple.Mr.david Mahawelatenna,who lived
at Mahawalatenna was a good friend of this priest.
This friendship helped in the development of the temple. Later Rev. Devagoda Dewananda thero
did great service for the development of the Temple.A temple ,a well for obtaining of water ,and a
Dhanashalawa (a hall for partaking of meals)was built with the help of Mr.Samuel David Mahawalatenna
,the Ratemahalmaya. The death of Rev-Devananda Thero in 1918 is also said to be a miracle.Later the
High Priest of this Temple was Wikiravita sri Piyatissa Thero who got his higher ordination from Burma.
He did immense service for the development of the Temple.Rev-Opanayake Gnanda Thero is also a
participant of the precent development.
The five important items that should be in a temple namely Sangha Wasa,Viharageya Chaithiya
pohoyageya, and Bo-Tree to day.the chief incumbent Rev-Vikiravita Thero helped in a big way for the
present development.Presently important constructions in the Temple are,
The old Shrine Room
The Shrine Room on the Rock
The Chaithiya
04 The Bo – Tree
.Pohoya-Geya06The Relic Room
The old preaching Hall
Sanghawasa
Dhana Shalawa
The success to Rev.Vikiravita Thero was Hatangala Pannasena.We wish that Rev-Pannasena will improve
the Temple with assistance of the village of area .We wish him the blessing of the triple gem.
Our URL: http://www.oasisdamahana.org
Oasis Damahana - Balangoda 