New Vakarai MV – pride of the East

Rasika Somarathna in Vakarai

The new Vakarai Maha Vidyalayam is the most modern and technically advanced school complex in the Batticaloa District. The school which was destroyed by the 2004 Tsunami and which received further blows due to abuse by LTTE terrorists during their occupation of the area, has now been reconstructed and stands strong as an inspiration to students, teachers and public who had to overcome many challenges and hardships.

The school has been reconstructed by the Education Ministry in collaboration with the European Union and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

The European Union (EU) has granted financial assistance worth Rs. 300 million for the effort.

The Education Ministry too has contributed more than Rs. 10 million for furniture and other equipments for school buildings, in addition to supplying other material and human resources needs.

Over 700 children from grades 1 - 13 will benefit from the school which caters to both primary and secondary class students.

It comprises of a fully equipped library, centre for IT studies, science laboratory, vocational and technology laboratories, a language centre and facilities for a variety of sports and aesthetic studies. The European Union’s grant of Rs. 300 million towards the reconstruction of the school is a part of its overall post tsunami aid package for Sri Lanka.