Hindu College Colombo – hcc.lk

Effective date: [ ] – Last updated: [ ]

Hindu College Colombo (“the School,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is committed to protecting the privacy of everyone who visits or uses hcc.lk (“the Site”), including prospective and current students, parents, staff, alumni, and members of our Old Boys’ Associations (OBAs) worldwide. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and the choices and rights available to you.

1. Who We Are

Hindu College Colombo is the data controller responsible for the Site and for the personal data described in this policy.

• Address: 77, Lorenz Road, Bambalapitiya, Colombo, Sri Lanka
• Phone: 011 2 586 169
• Email: info@hcc.lk

For privacy-specific queries, please use the dedicated contact in Section 12.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information you give us directly

• Contact details submitted through forms on the Site — such as name, email address, phone number — for example via the Contact Us, Admissions, or Donations pages
• Information submitted when registering interest in admissions, careers, or OBA membership
• Payment or donation details, where applicable, which are processed securely by our third-party payment provider and are not stored by the School

2.2 Information collected automatically

• Technical information such as browser type, device type, and operating system
• Usage data such as pages visited, time spent on the Site, and referring website
• Cookies and similar technologies — see Section 4

3. How We Use Your Information

• To respond to enquiries submitted through the Site
• To process admissions, careers, or donation submissions
• To improve the content, usability, and performance of the Site
• To share relevant school news and updates, where you have agreed to receive these
• To meet legal, regulatory, or safeguarding obligations

We only use personal data for the purpose it was collected, or a closely related purpose, unless you have given consent or we are required to by law.

4. Cookies

The Site uses cookies to support core functionality and to understand how visitors use the Site. On your first visit you will be shown a cookie banner where you can accept or manage cookie preferences. Strictly necessary cookies, which are required for the Site to function, cannot be disabled. You can also control cookies through your browser settings; disabling certain cookies may affect how parts of the Site work.

5. Sharing of Information

We do not sell, rent, or trade personal information collected through the Site. We may share information only in the following circumstances:

• With trusted service providers who support the Site (e.g. hosting, email, payment processing), under obligations to protect your data
• With the relevant School department to action an enquiry (e.g. Admissions, Careers)
• Where required by law, regulation, or to protect the rights, safety, or property of the School or others

Independent Old Boys’ Associations (OBAs) — including but not limited to CHCPPA UK and other recognised regional chapters — operate their own websites and membership systems. Where the Site links to an OBA’s own website, that OBA’s own privacy policy applies to information you submit there; please refer to the relevant chapter’s own site for details.

6. Children’s Information

As a school website, some content may relate to current students, who may be minors. The School does not knowingly collect personal data directly from children through the Site without parental or school consent. Photographs, names, or achievements of students may be published on the Site as part of normal school life and news coverage, in line with the School’s safeguarding and media consent practices; parents or guardians may contact the School to request removal of specific content involving their child.

7. Data Security

We adopt appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect personal data against unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure, or loss, including secure (SSL/TLS encrypted) data transmission where personal or payment information is submitted.

8. Data Retention

We retain personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purpose it was collected for, or as required by law, after which it is securely deleted or anonymised.

9. Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have rights in relation to your personal data, which may include the right to:

• Access the personal data we hold about you
• Request correction of inaccurate data
• Request deletion of your data, where applicable
• Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent
• Object to or restrict certain processing

These rights are available in accordance with the Personal Data Protection Act, No. 9 of 2022 of Sri Lanka, and, for visitors accessing the Site from the United Kingdom or European Union, in accordance with the UK/EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) where applicable. To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details in Section 12.

10. Third-Party Links

The Site may contain links to third-party websites, including social media platforms and OBA chapter websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those external sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policy of any site you visit via a link from hcc.lk.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The “Last updated” date at the top of this page will reflect the most recent revision. We encourage you to review this page periodically.

12. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or how your personal data is handled, please contact:

• Email: webmaster@hcc.lk
• Phone: 011 2 586 169
• Post: 77, Lorenz Road, Bambalapitiya, Colombo, Sri Lanka