'Jaffna schools upgraded with WB help'

Suraj A Bandara in Jaffna

The government with the support of the World Bank has upgraded the infrastructure facilities of 36 schools in Jaffna and a fully fledged zonal education office in Thenmarachchi at a cost of Rs. 150 million.

Many projects with the participation of government ministers, local politicians and educationists of the region, were opened yesterday. The joint venture of developing schools was a concept of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. He has personally directed the relevant authorities to upgrade the education system in the war affected areas at their earliest. The Jaffna students had claims to a prestigious history by creating world famous academics, scholars and scientists.

Local Government and Provincial Councils Deputy Minister Indika Bandaranayake, participated at the opening ceremony of the Zonal education office in Thenmarachchi, said that before the beginning of the thirty-year war, Jaffna was the hub of education in the country due to the majority of well recognized doctors, engineers and accountants being from Jaffna.

"Students from Jaffna were special among the other students, since many of them had the capability to handle any matter due to their education.

"We hope that the people of Jaffna would be strong enough to face the future challenges and bring back their thirty-year drawbacks to the present and make ready the next generation to face the future with courage and dedication. All schools that were upgraded through this joint venture, would again be supported to forget all the shortcomings and if any school had a shortage of teachers, they would be provided. Sports facilities should also be rebuilt to create a healthy generation. Since Jaffna seemed uninterested in sports, they should be provided with all the facilities to engage in sports, the Deputy Minister said.