IGP in exemplary gesture

Chamikara WEERASINGHE

Chief Minister of Sabaragamuwa Province Maheepala Herath yesterday directed provincial education authorities to take steps without delay to construct a couple of student hostels and a 1000-seat auditorium for the students at Balangoda Udagama Maha Vidyalaya at the request of Inspector General of Police N K Illangakoon.

IGP Illangakoon is a past student of Udagama Maha Vidyalaya. He had also asked Chief Minister Herath to build an upper floor for a classroom building in the school. "IGP asked Chief Minister Herath to complete the construction of classrooms without delay during a meeting held at Udagama Maha Vidyalaya, yesterday," sources at Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council said.

Maheepala Herath said at the meeting that IGP Illangakoon has reflected a unique stature and exemplary conduct to society by not forgetting the school where he studied and learned his lessons, which laid the foundation for his success.

It was decided at the meeting to begin construction work on the auditorium from January 2012. It will be built at a cost of Rs.2.5 million. Udagama Maha Vidyalaya was placed in the list of schools to be developed under the Programme of District Level School Development Program, the sources said. The school has also been placed under the category of "super schools."

Herath instructed provincial education authorities to establish an IT unit and a library for students in the school. He ordered them to take necessary steps to provide the school's Aesthetic unit with necessary instruments and facilities required by the students with immediate effect.

Present at the meeting were Provincial Health and Indigenous Medicine Minister Bhanu Munipriya, Secretary General H P Kularatna, Education Secretary K A S Keeragala and Provincial Education Director R Abeysinghe.