CDB supports University of Peradeniya respond to Ditwah challenge

• Revamps and modernizes IT infrastructure benefiting over 15,000 students • LKR 40 million investment is the single largest investment by a corporate entity in the  University of Peradeniya 

Building and developing its platform for a tech-enabled  nation, Citizens Development Business Finance PLC (CDB) inaugurated the CDB Elevate AI Zone at the  University of Peradeniya, a fully equipped facility comprising a main server room, an IT lab, an AI lab with  high-end computers, and a furnished seminar room. Delivered through an investment of LKR 40 million,  the initiative restores and upgrades critical academic infrastructure damaged by Cyclone Ditwah,  benefiting over 15,000 students at the university. 

With the university's existing IT lab having sustained significant damage in the aftermath of Cyclone  Ditwah, leaving students with limited access to essential computing facilities at a critical point in their  academic year, CDB stepped forward to rebuild and re-equip the facility. Recognising the impact Ditwah  had on the student community, CDB restored access and upgraded the space with modern, AI-enabled  learning infrastructure in the process. 

Commenting on the initiative, Managing Director/CEO of CDB Mahesh Nanayakkara said: "At CDB, we  believe that education is one of the most powerful investments we can make in Sri Lanka's future. When  Cyclone Ditwah disrupted the learning environment for thousands of students at the University of  Peradeniya, we saw an opportunity to not just restore what was lost but to build something better. The  CDB Elevate AI Zone reflects our commitment to standing by our communities in their moments of need  and to equipping the next generation with the digital and AI-enabled tools they need to thrive." 

The CDB Elevate AI Zone forms part of the Company's Socially Conscious strategic pillar, under its  Community Impact focus area, specifically within Education & Literacy, reflecting CDB's long-standing  commitment to equitable access to education and digital learning infrastructure across Sri Lanka. 

Now operational and accessible to students, giving them renewed access to modern IT infrastructure and  AI-enabled learning tools as they continue their academic pursuits, the initiative reinforces CDB's  commitment to enabling inclusivity across the nation. It reiterates CDB's role as a responsible corporate  citizen, committed to investing in the nation's future through meaningful, high-impact community support. 

Prof. Terrance Madhujith, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Peradeniya, added, "The disruption caused  by Cyclone Ditwah left a real gap in our students' access to essential computing facilities, at a time when  they could least afford it. CDB's swift and generous response has not only restored what was damaged but has also given our students access to a far more advanced learning environment than before.  Completed well ahead of the planned completion date, this stands as one of the single largest  investments made by a corporate entity to the University of Peradeniya in recent history. It is a testament  to the scale of CDB's commitment. We are deeply grateful for this partnership and for CDB's continued  investment in our students' futures."