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3,500 flood-affected children yet to return to schools

by Manjula Fernando

Over 3,500 children from the flood and landslide affected districts have failed to return to schools, the special unit on floods at the Prime Minister's Office reported yesterday.

The authorities believe they could belong to the worst affected or displaced families who have not been able to return to their normal way of life as yet.

According to the district Secretaries, 1998 students in Ratnapura, nine in Kalutara, 904 from Matara, 75 from Hambantota and 529 from Galle have not returned to schools up to date since the day the schools re-opened on the directions of the Education Ministry from this Monday.

The displaced number of children include nearly 48,000 below five years, with nearly 22,000 from Matara alone followed by Ratnapura (21,000).

Education authorities have estimated the Ministry would need at least Rs.128 million to get the education sector in the five flood hit districts back on track.

The funds are to rebuild the destroyed infrastructure of 156 schools, provide study material and uniforms for over 100,000 displaced children, restore laboratories and sanitation and drinking water facilities etc.

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