Batuwangala Maha Vidyalaya won 2nd place at District level,Mother Sri Lanka debate series.

The story of our motherland is presently taking a different turn, a turn which is unprecedented and never thought of. At this crucial milestone of our country, Sri Lanka requires the assistance of all its citizens both in and out of Sri Lanka to speed the process of recovery and develop a country which has extraordinary potential. In light of achieving this primary objective, the ‘Mother Sri Lanka’ project is working towards bringing together diverse perspectives under one umbrella to develop positive thinking about Sri Lanka. The Mother Sri Lanka Program is implemented with leadership and direction from the President’s Office.

Batuwangala Maha Vidyalaya took Part the debate Series organized by the Mother Sri Lanka Foundation and won the first place from the zonal level.Then we Participate for the district level competition held at Richmond college Galle.We would like to alarm that we won the second place at over there.from 12 schools selected from Galle district we won the second place.Given bellow are the BMV team.
we would like to Thank every one who contributed them selves towards this victory.Specially Principal Thilaka Vijenayake,Mr.Chinthaka Chandra Kumara,Mrs.Deepika and Mr.Aruna Chaminda For their immense sacrifices behind this.

Board of prefects for 2009.

Batuwangala Maha Vidyalaya recruited board of prefects for the year 2009 recently at the school main hall.The divisional director of education Mr.Sena Koswaththa was the chief guest and Mr.Rasika Waththegama,OIC of Neluwa Police was also among the distinguish guests.principal Thilaka Wijenayake took the responsibility all the time keeping her staff behind this mammoth process.Mr.Chinthaka Chandrakumara,the in charge of the Bord of prefects welcomed the gathering and after religious observances the function began.Mr.Sena Koswaththa address the gathering and explained the impotence of being a prefects.he further explained that one from this set of prefects may one day be leader like our president.prefects are the secondary force to poster school administration according to Me.Koswaththa.The newly appointed prefects were very much attentive to listen to Mr.Koswaththa.Mr.Koswaththa has been working as a teacher in the BMV when he was a teacher.He gave brief history of his era in BMV also.Then he marked the  process.After that Mr.Rasika waththegama gave the badge to one of student and he also gave some valuable advices to the students.

According to Mr.Rasika Waththegama leaders are the people who saturates the goals of the particular institution.he also revealed that the board of prefect are 35 in number where the whole student population is 350.So out of 35 students one has become prefect.He admired the bored of prefects and gave some historical legends to show how leaders must get in to descition.Mr.Rasika waththegama Stressed on the matter that if the intentions of principal to appoint the prefects to assist her with school administration,the board of prefects are asked to poster that intentions of the principal.Finally the new prefects took oath.

The function was successfully finished by afternoon.We wish all the best for the bord of prefects 2009.

Final phase of power plant project.

Batuwangala evillage utilized inside the Batuwangala Maha Vidyalaya, along with the Practical Action started A hydro power plant project. Batuwangala evillage experiences difficulties to pay for electricity.Mr Rohitha, From Practical Action programme Came to help us.There will be a power plant,generating 400W for batuwangala evillage.Using this power supply ,The computer lab may operate computers by Charging battery panel. We believe that this will be a sound Experience to the youngsters in the village.They are observing the process of how to generate electricity from the Hydro power.All So Mr.Rohitha Explained each and every step to the BMV students. When we start this project work we, as Batuwangala evillage wanted to have local CBO support.We would like to thank the villagers who let us to build the power plant in their small tea plots and paddy fields to run wires.Also our special thank goes to Miss Harini and Mr.Rohitha for their kind consideration about batuwangala maha Vidyalaya and Batuwangala e-village.

This project will supply 300W power to the computer lab and will contribute to our electricity bill.Batuwangala e-village Faces the problem of paying electricity bills and we wanted to have this kind of project from the beginning.Our well wishers are also thanked for their support to pay the electricity bills and their kind contributions for students’ ICT education. The project now has reached to its third phase where only wiring the lab is left.With in another two weeks The power from the plant will contribute with the computer lab.

Sinhala Tamil new Year.

In April (the month of Bak) when the sun moves from the Meena Rashiya (House of Pisces) to the Mesha Rashiya (House of Aries) Sri Lankans begin celebrating their National New Year Aluth Avurudhu in Sinhala and Puththandu in Tamil.  However, unlike the usual practice where the new year begins at midnight, the National New Year begins at the time determined by the astrologers. Not only the beginning of the new year but the conclusion of the old year is also specified by the astrologers. And unlike the customary ending and beginning of new year, there is a period of a few hours in between the conclusion of the Old Year and the commencement of the New Year , which is called the nona gathe (neutral period). During this time one is expected to keep off from all types of work and engage solely in religious activities.

This also coincides with the time when the harvest ends, so the colorful fruit from the trees is collected in bulk to fuel the week-long celebrations. Festivities are prepared well in advance and most of the country grinds to a halt as hundreds travel home to be with their families and stores close down in their wake – it can be impossible to track down the simplest of things just before it all starts.

The rituals begin with the cleaning of the house and lighting of an oil lamp, and women congregate to bash on the raban (drum) to warn others of the incipient change in the year. If you fail to hear this, a storm of firecrackers is bound to hammer the point home.

Families indulge in a variety of rituals which are carefully determined by astrological calculations – from lighting the fire to making the kiri (milk rice) bath, to entering into the first business transaction and eating the first morsels.

Once these are done, the partying really begins as families mingle in the streets, homes are thrown open and children are let out to play. The ubiquitous plantain is dished out alongside celebratory feasts of kaung (small oil cake) and kokis (crisp and light sweetmeat, originally from the Netherlands).

Aurudu has become an important national holiday for both the cultures of the Sinhalese Buddhists and the Tamil Hindu Sri Lankans, and is unique as such, as it is not celebrated elsewhere in the world. Indeed wealthy Sri Lankans make it an excuse to come home from wherever they are to make it a long holiday season.

Those who can’t handle the heat of the pre-monsoon season in the south escape to the cooler hills and indulge in the expensive pastimes of the elite – such as polo, golf, tennis and motor racing.

An English Teacher From germany Visits batuwangala e-village.

Batuwangala e-village students got a nice chance to participate in an English course conducted by Miss. Heike Sonntag,Language department head of Robert Gerwing Schule of Germany. She visited Batuwangala e-village last 29th and was here till 31st of March 2009.She was very happy to be here with the children and she worked all the day along with the children.
Miss. Heike is the first ever Foreign Volunteer who visited the Batuwangala e-village. Villagers and the children were very happy to see her here in Batuwangala Maha Vodyalaya. She conducted separate sessions of English for children from junior e-village team and senior e-village team.She also conducted English workshop for grade 12 Students of batuwangala maha vidyalaya.Students were confident enough to use English and Miss Heike made student to speak the language which they havealready learned.

Junior e-village children participate their common English class this week with Miss Heike and this Session went on more than 3 hours.End of each and every session children wanted their new English teacher to be with them even for One mounth.How ever she left Batuwangala e-village with the promise of she will come back.The Principal of Batuwangala Maha Vidyalaya,The staff and Parents gave their thanks to the New English teacher.

We would like to thank Miss Heike for her dedication to teach English to our e-village children and of course we would like to thank Mr.Mangus from Germany and Mr.Chandrapala from Sri Lanken Embassy from Milano for their kind consideration of Batuwangala Maha Vidyalaya.

Batuwangala e-village moves to Web 2.0 technology

Batuwangala e-village has moved to the latest web developing technology, web 2.0. Now we use the latest web technology in the universe, becoming the first ever evillage using web 2.0. Web technology with open source content management System is the most updated technology used by the professional web developers. Batuwangala e-village would like to express the extreme thank to Mr.Denuwan Wejewardena, a sound gentlemen who is toiling to teach web developing to the all e-villages. He is the force behind this mammoth move of batuwangala e-village. Previously batuwangala e-village experienced the difficulties to upload web sites and updating them in a convenient way. We had to spend hours in front of the computer to upload our sites. Thanks to Mr.Denuwan, the new Batuwangala evillage web site was published within 4 hours. Now we only want a computer with an internet connection to up load our web sites.

Unique Opportunity for Gap Year Students in Sri Lanka.Use your gap year to build skills and intercultural experience in Asian Culture !

Unique Opportunity in Sri Lanka for Gap Year Students. Use your gap year to build skills and intercultural experience in Asian Culture !

More and more people are choosing to take a Gap Year, a break in between the normal school to university life. A gap year can be a space in which to experience new opportunities, explore the world of different people, different believes, different cultures ,and it can also be a great opportunity to mould your approach to your future.

Sri Lanka is an amazing location for a gap year – an inexpensive Island, extremely friendly people, rich in culture and adventure. Whether you are interested in interning, volunteering, teaching English or getting experience to teach English as a secondary language, or learning the culture or religion we likely have a unique gap year program for you to work with the people in remote village schools. Taking a gap year in Sri Lanka can be one of the most rewarding and enjoyable life experiences for people from all ages.

In addition to gap year opportunities, Sri Lanka offers you many more small miracles. White sandy beaches, Serendipity at its best, lush greenery, exciting adventures, amazing wildlife and a rich heritage.
The warm and friendly smiles of the people await you in the Isle of Sri Lanka. Come experience and enjoy.

Looking at a map of Sri Lanka one feels a touch of amazement that so much can happen in this pear shape island, tucked between the Indian subcontinent and the endless Indian Ocean! It is a beautiful Island, of astounding valleys and mountains with its breathtaking scenery, is home to our current volunteering projects.
Our volunteers are working in large primary schools based in Southern District of Galle as well as in a secondary school and several small rural primary schools in the Island. Teaching English is the main focus of these projects although volunteers have also been active in teaching drama, sports and science.
All of our projects are Sri Lankan Government sponsored community based programmes giving volunteers the opportunity to immersed in village life and learn from, as well as help the local people.

What you need to provide is only :
Living costs and spending money.
Energy and enthusiasm!
In return, you will get teaching skills and intercultural experience in Asian Culture.

Deciding on what to pack and on whether to travel light.
You need only light cloths. Jeans and T shirts will be sufficient. The local people wear ties and suits only for weddings. Take minimum and designer cloths are very cheap in Sri Lanka
Health issues such as vaccinations, malaria, first aid, safe water/food and emergencies.
Officially you do not need any vaccination. Better take some malaria tablets. Even though Sri Lanka has a free to all health service and all top hospitals are run by the government, the healthcare is free of charge, However travel insurance is recommended in an unlikely event if you prefer to have a private hospital care.

Starting point for planning your gap year…..

Making the decision to take a gap year. Reassuring parents about taking a gap year.

Sri Lanka is not a strange place. It is a major holiday destination in the world, situated just 20 miles off India, the island formerly known as Ceylon is home to 21 million people. The Resplendent Isle is one of gorgeous beaches, famous for old British tea plantations and ancient cities, Scuba dive, elephant orphanage, a lagoon of singing fish, dense jungle, many of modern Buddhist shrines and temples.

Deciding on what to pack and on whether to travel light.
You need only light cloths. Jeans and T shirts will be sufficient. The local people wear ties and suits only for weddings. Take minimum and designer cloths are very cheap in Sri Lanka
Health issues such as vaccinations, malaria, first aid, safe water/food and emergencies.
Officially you do not need any vaccination. Better take some malaria tablets. Even though Sri Lanka has a free to all health service and all top hospitals are run by the government, the healthcare is free of charge, However travel insurance is recommended in an unlikely event if you prefer to have a private hospital care.

Accommodation
Either chose hotel accommodation or shared village house. Room accommodation can be around £25 a month 3 bed house with a kitchen, Hotel accommodation per room £190/month ( Conversion rate 1£=160Rs) Average meal (vegetarian or with fish Sri Lankan style will cost £1 – 2. If you get somebody to cook, it may cost you £2/day.
Climate
There are no distinctive seasons in Sri Lanka and it is year round summer. Trees and Bushes are ever green. Rain –mainly monsoon type with heavy thunder.
Work
Schools are open from 7.30 Am to 1.30 pm daily (6 hours) and most students will be working in the computer labs after school. First term start in January to first week of April and the second term starts in last week of April to end of July, Third term start from beginning of September to December.

How to stay safe in another country.
Sri Lanka is always full of tourists and there are large number of tourist beach hotels scattered all over the Island. These can be expensive for students. In order to enjoy the rich and varied holiday assets of the country on a modest budget, the Ceylon Tourist Board has set up a network of Resorts called Rest Houses in prime locations in Nuwara Eliya, Bandarawela, Anuradhapura, Kataragama and Bentota. Set in exceptionally scenic and salubrious locations in premier hill-stations, hallowed and historic shrines and beaches, these resorts also offer superb sightseeing with the bonus of moderately priced, comfortable “home away from home” accommodation with an authentic Sri Lankan flavor and comprehensive facilities. (http://www.srilankatourism.org/holiday.php)
Deciding on travelling with friends or going solo.
Always better if you have two or three people in one group.
Credit cards and debit cards.
Credit cards are acceptable in tourist hotels and restaurants. But not in local and village boutiques.
Brief information on a variety of neighboring countries.
Recommend to visit India, Thailand Singapore and Japan while you are living in this part of the world.

Our Vision
To contribute to reducing inequalities in accessing ICT services and technology for sustainable development.
Our Mission
To provide the community with leaders equipped with the necessary attitudes, skills and knowledge especially in relation to ICT and technology who will be able to contribute to the sustainable development of their community.
Visit
http://www.batuwangala.org
http://www.batuwangala.sch.lk
This is a Project work under SEMP project,By the Ministry of Education in Sri Lanka.

Walking through the blossoming countryside of Batuwangala, a village adjacent to the largest and well preserved rainforest as the backdrop, the volunteers can walk from their own village houses to local primary schools. Batuwangala village is surrounded by lush tea plantations with occasional paddy fields, vegetable plots, rubber estates scattered over.Here the volunteers can teach basic English and a choice of extra-curricular activities such as football, Cricket, painting, singing or dancing, and become immersed in village life with the Local people who are mainly Sinhala Buddhists. Eastern dancing is also a common traditional teaching by traditional dansers.Eastern dancing is also a common traditional teaching by traditional dancers. Among Village youth there are talented dancers who are willing to share their knowledge.Many village children only have the chance of primary and secondary education – so you can help where the need is greatest.

Most of the time it may be raining here in Batuwangala except in December and January. Climate is cool and comfortable. No air conditioning is required. The out door activities are to be organized with lot more care with the prevailing weather conditions. But hiking, Expeditions, volunteer work campaigns can be organized.

Annual school calendar consist of “Sila samadhi”, a frequent Buddhist group meditation exercise, annual school trips, annual sports events Etc. As the waterfalls are nearby, occasionally, when students feel bored, they visit the waterfall. There are 5 waterfalls nearby approximately 2 km. from the school. One water fall is with in 50 meters.

The nearest regional city is Galle which is the capital of the southern province and it is about 65 KM from Batuwangala and can be reached in 2 hours by public transport. UNESCO declared World Heritage Site, the magnificent Dutch fort is the most popular attraction of the Galle town. 300 year old Dutch atmosphere is still very much alive around the fort and amidst its many historical buildings not invaded by the skyscrapers.. Nearest beach resorts are Hikkaduwa and Unawatuna and can also be reached in two hours.

How to apply
If you are interested in spending your gap year (minimum of 6 months) or having a career-break working in Sri Lanka, please contact us.

For the Application Form, Terms & Conditions, etc…. contact us……

Power Plant for Batuwangala Maha Vidyalaya..

Potential benefits to the community from the E Village
1. Promote cooperation and networking among local CBOs
Although several Community Based Organizations (CBOs) exist in the Batuwangala village they are rather weak due to poor communication and organizational capacity. However, CBOs are an integral part of village life and often play a role in everyday lives of people as well as during major events in the community. The E village concept could initiate networking among the different CBOs in order to share resources and also improve communication between each other.
2. Strengthen local livelihood strategies
Agriculture and tea are the main sources of livelihood in the area. The E village could be a source of information to the community that would enable them to gain access to useful information such as current market prices, new technology and to developments in the sector. Lack of information and knowledge is one of the main reasons why agriculture small holders are disempowered and lack the capacity to negotiate better terms and conditions. The E Village could be a means by which this issue is addressed.

3. Creating career opportunities for youth
Youth unemployment is a pressing problem in Sri Lanka, particularly among rural youth. The E Village presents an opportunity for introducing youth to potential career and job opportunities in a range of areas. Our intention is not to merely train youth in ICT and send them off to seek jobs outside, but also to encourage youth to use ICT and technology to generate opportunities and to initiate activities within the community as well. For example, there are many services that are needed within the area if ICT accessibility in rural areas is to be truly a reality; the E village could be the source of skilled personnel for such services to be initiated and developed.
Proposed activities:
1.

Constraints:
The major problem we face currently are on going costs for electricity and internet connection. While the E Village intends to eventually financially sustainable, this is not immediately possible. We propose the following:
1. Generation of a mini hydro power plant
A member of the community has a mini hydro power plant which he is willing to share with the E Village. We propose to link this power plant to the school which would generate enough electricity for the entire school as well as the computer lab. If we are successful with this we would be able to use the funds saved by the school for electricity to be used for paying the internet costs. Students could also contribute to the internet costs.
Approximate Cost : Rs 800,000
We would like every body to join with us.please contact us for more information.

Hello there, this is the blog for Batuwangala Maha Vidyalaya.

G/Batuwangala Maha vidyalaya is situated in Southern capital,Galle district, Hiniduma electroate,Hinidumpaththuwa,Neluwa.It is belong to Thawalama divition in Udugama Educational zone. It is in a beautiful vicinity. Sinharaja forest – a world famous ever green heritage is very close to the school. Famous “Ginganga” flows bordering school grounds. The surrounding adds Immense beauty. Hilly tea estates, misty mountains cool and soft weather, calm vicinity with the peaceful villagers are brings blessings to the school. Another breath taking place is “Duliella”- famous Waterfall falling down just away. It enchants the visitors by its gleaming beauty.It is in Sinharaja.Most of the people are prestigious Buddhists. They foster an abbot known as “aranya” a place where Buddhist monks meditate in Sinharaja.The people have extended bond with this place and they all way get the blessings. Approximately 60 kilometers from Galle city.

Batuwangala,a village where people grow tea as their main income.This gives scenic beauty to Batuwangala.The vicinity is also rich from natures gifts.There are several water falls around the school.Duli ella is a famous water fall just one kilometer away from the school.

Batuwangala Maha Vidyalaya Which is Known as BMV is now about to launch a wide range of Electronic services for the people live in Batuwangala.So,we well come all of you to BMV……………………..