'Racial harmony in schools'

Indrani THORADENIYA

Primary and secondary schools will be set up in place of separate Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim schools in the future.

The government has taken this decision to enable the country's child generation to move forward with the modern developments of the world irrespective of petty differences said Central Province Chief Minister Sarath Ekanayake.

The Chief Minister was addressing a meeting which followed the opening of a new computer unit at the Siddhilebbe Maha Vidyalaya, Kandy on Monday. Ekanayake said that there are 1470 schools in the Central Province of which 900 are categorised as Sinhala schools 463 as Tamil schools and 107 Muslim schools.

All these schools will be transformed into primary and secondary schools in keeping with the new national policy. Ekanayake said his Ministry has started a program to provide schools in the province with computer centres. Out of the 1470 schools 600 have already been provided with this facility. The balance would also be provided with computer centres soon.

The Chief Minister said his ministry and the government would not be contented by merely providing modern facilities to schools.