The students of Vakarai Maha Vidyalayam are ushering in a new era of hope today with the inauguration of their newly reconstructed school building in Vakarai, 62 kilometers from Batticaloa, on the eastern coast of Sri Lanka.
The European Union (EU) in collaboration with the Ministry of Education through its implementing partner, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), supported the school reconstruction under the Community Livelihood Support Programme, which is part of the European Union’s overall Tsunami Aid programme.
“Vakarai Maha Vidyalaya was shifted to a safer area after the tsunami and functioning in semi permanent learning facilities until today when the EU, through IOM, completed the construction of a completely new school”, says the Minister of Education Hon. Susil Premajayantha. “I have no doubt that the newly built modernized school will stand out as our strength and inspiration in overcoming challenges of the tsunami,- a model school for the future,” he adds.
The EUR 1.88 million (approximately LKR 300 million) school reconstruction project financed under the European Union’s EUR 147 million (LKR 24.2 billion) tsunami recovery aid package comprises permanent buildings for primary and secondary sections; an assembly hall; a library; science, computer, vocational and technology laboratories; administration offices; a language centre; aesthetics rooms, and a canteen.
The government contributed the furniture and equipment for the school buildings worth nearly EUR 59,000 (LKR 10 million).
“It is with great pleasure that the Vakarai Maha Vidyalayam is gifted to the present and future students from the generous people of Europe as a token of their long standing friendship with Sri Lanka. The European Union firmly believes that the new and improved facilities of the school will be benefitted by the students in the years to come”, says the Ambassador to the Delegation of the European Commission to Sri Lanka and the Maldives H.E. Bernard Savage.
Today, Vakarai Maha Vidyalayam is the largest primary and secondary school in eastern Sri Lanka. Over 700 students from Grades 1 through 13 will benefit from the school’s modern facilities.
“IOM is pleased to partner with the European Union and the Ministry of Education in implementing the construction of this modern education institute for students and teachers who have overcome; the devastation of the tsunami and the impact from years of conflict. They will now have greater opportunity to excel in education with hope for the future”, says IOM Sri Lanka’s Chief of Mission, Mohammed Abdi Ker.
“This reconstruction work on one of the largest schools in the eastern Province is a commendable example of international cooperation, together with the participation of government, non-government and community organizations irrespective of ethnic or religious differences”, says H.E. Mahinda Rajapaksa, the President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka in his message to celebrate the opening.
The grand opening ceremony of the school which stands as a monument to triumph over adversity for the people of Vakarai, and the next generation of Sri Lankans, will take place on 22 September 2009 at the school premises among a large gathering of distinguished guests representing the government, European Union, IOM and school officials and most importantly - the teachers and students.