Pakistan assures continued support

Pakistan will continue to support Sri Lanka in its journey towards progress and prosperity which can only be achieved through sound education, High Commissioner Seema Ilahi Baloch said.

She was speaking at a ceremony to lay the foundation stone for a building for Al-Aksha Maha Vidyalam in Salam Baikulam, Vavuniya.

Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa, Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen and Pakistan High Commissioner Seema Ilahi Baloch participate in the foundation stone laying ceremony for a building for Al-Aksha Maha Vidyalam in Salam Baikulam, Vavuniya.

Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa and Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen laid the foundation stone. Baloch expressed hope that all efforts will be undertaken to make this school a modern educational facility on the lines of the other Pakistan sponsored school Babus Salaam Maha Vidyalaya in Gampaha.

She said the newly constructed school in Salam Baikulam will help create professionals amongst young citizens for the future benefit of Sri Lanka.

"It will further cement the good relationship between the two countries," Baloch said.

The Pakistan government sponsored the construction of this school building in the resettled village of Salam Baikulam in Vavuniya Town to support the government's education sector development drive.

Minister Rajapaksa thanked the government and people of Pakistan for their support to the construction of the school. He said Pakistan has never let the government and people of Sri Lanka down and has always extended her support to Sri Lanka. He said the Sri Lankan government will transform this school into a model school for the area. The newly constructed school will cater to people in Salam Baikulam.

The school offers qualifications up to O Levels and has an enrollment of over 465 male and female students belonging to all ethnic groups. The school project was identified by the High Commissioner during a visit to Vavuniya in July 2012. During the visit she observed that despite having limited facilities in the existing school building where three classes were being conducted in a single classroom, the people had a strong commitment to education.