K. P. Vidanapathirana, I. M. Dharmadasa, N. Roelens and S. Pathirana
Access to reliable electricity and digital infrastructure remains a major constraint for many rural schools in Sri Lanka. Solar Village SDG Community Interest Company (CIC), based in the United Kingdom, supports community-led renewable-energy projects that improve education, clean-water access, and local income generation in rural communities. Its Sri Lankan programme has grown from an initial school-based pilot into a series of solar-village developments, with recent initiatives also focusing on smart classrooms and IT-based education.
The Wannipalugollewa project represents the eleventh solar village funded through this programme. It addresses two linked needs at Dharmapradeepa Vidyalaya: providing students with practical exposure to computing and online learning, and reducing the school’s dependence on grid electricity through solar generation and battery storage.
Wannipalugollewa Dharmapradeepa Vidyalaya is situated in a rural village approximately 30 kilo meters from Anuradhapura town. Students in such communities often have limited opportunities to use computers, access educational resources online, or develop the digital skills increasingly required for higher education and employment.
The project was therefore designed as a solar-powered information technology (IT) laboratory that would enable students to connect with wider learning resources and gain confidence in using modern technologies. The initiative also aligns with Solar Village SDG’s broader objective of expanding solar-powered educational facilities in rural Sri Lankan schools.
Fig.1. Appearance of the poor state of the facility before the project only with a few computers.
Project Coordination and Partnerships
Professor Kamal Vidanapathirana coordinated the project in Sri Lanka. Implementation was made possible through collaboration among Solar Village SDG CIC, United Kingdom, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka, and Geen Solar Technology, a PV solar-energy company.
Wayamba University contributed technical expertise through its staff and students, particularly in computer repair, laboratory networking, and student-led community service. The Electronics Society of the Department of Electronics, Wayamba University, has simultaneously conducted the Prayāma , which is a community-oriented initiative. It reflects the Society’s commitment to extending university learning beyond the campus and using students’ knowledge, skills, and collective effort for the benefit of the wider community. The project focuses on supporting underprivileged schools and schoolchildren through educational assistance, resource donations, and community-development activities. In particular, Prayāma has provided stationery and other essential school resources to beneficiary schools.
The project plan included the following major components:
In the past, the IT lab with three computers was mainly dependent on the grid power supply and with the completion of the project it is independently operated with generated solar power. The battery storage component is particularly important in a rural school setting where frequent power failures occur. It allows solar electricity generated during the day to be retained for later use, supporting both the IT laboratory and essential school operations such as water pumping.
Expected educational and financial benefits
The solar-powered IT laboratory will allow students at Wannipalugollewa Dharmapradeepa Vidyalaya to access digital learning materials, develop basic computer literacy, and connect with educational opportunities beyond their traditional learning methods in the village school. This is expected to strengthen their preparation for further studies and future technology-related employment.
The system is also expected to reduce the school’s electricity bill by at least 50%. When the IT laboratory is not in operation after the school time, the solar power generating and electricity stored in the battery system can be used to operate the school’s water pump. This dual use of the solar installation improves the economic sustainability of the project while supporting a basic school service. These savings can be credited to the village development community (VDC) bank account following the main concept of the solar village, “a regular wealth creation method for the community”. These funds can then be used for future maintenance of the system and for any other social development project.
Handover ceremony and community participation
The completed project was handed over to the school on 27 September 2026 at a ceremony organised by the school. The event was attended by parents, teachers, representatives of Wayamba University staff, and undergraduates from the Electronics Society of the Department of Electronics, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka.
The handover was combined with the Prayāma project conducted by the Electronics Society. Under this component, every student of the school received a pack of stationery items, extending the benefits of the visit beyond the IT laboratory itself. Prayāma is a long-standing social-service initiative of the Electronics Society aimed at assisting rural schools and enhancing students’ educational facilities.
Fig.2. Official handing over the documents to the principal of the school and ceremonially opening of the refurbished lab by a student of the school.
Fig.3. The IT lab after completing the project with solar powered 15 computers reducing school’s electricity bill.
This project demonstrates how university–industry–community partnerships can deliver practical, sustainable development outcomes in rural education. By integrating solar power, battery storage, refurbished computing equipment, and student volunteering, the initiative provides both immediate educational benefits and longer-term reductions in operating costs.
As the eleventh Solar Village project, the Wannipalugollewa installation contributes to the continuing expansion of solar-supported education in Sri Lanka. It also provides a replicable model for other rural schools seeking to combine renewable energy with digital learning infrastructure. More importantly, the visits of University Professors and undergraduate students to rural village schools provide significant motivation to schoolchildren, teachers, and parents to develop their community in every aspect of their lives.
We gratefully acknowledge the PV company for providing the solar roof and battery system at a concessional price, which made this installation possible. We also sincerely thank Ms Nilmini Roelens, CEO of Solar Village SDG, for raising funds for this project through the Oxford City Charity Walk taken place on 2 nd November 2025. Our appreciation is extended to the management, academic staff, and undergraduate students of Wayamba University of Sri Lanka for their valuable support, commitment, and active participation throughout the project.
Finally, we wish to thank everyone who contributed, directly or indirectly, to the successful completion of the Wannipalugollewa Solar Village project. Their generosity, expertise, and dedication will continue to benefit the school community and support sustainable, technology-enabled education in rural Sri Lanka.
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