Parents and villagers construct school building

Dharma Sri Abeyratne

Parents and villagers of Dapane in the Kolonna electorate have constructed a school building at a cost of Rs. 5 m for the primary section of the Dapane Vidyalaya, which was selected for the 1,000 secondary school development programme. The villagers and parents of Dapane had requested President Mahinda Rajapaksa to place the school under the development programme, aimed at transforming schools as 'knowledge hubs'. On the advice of the President, the school was placed under the programme.

Thereafter the parents and the villagers constructed a new building, as the primary section of a school under the programme, is extracted when developed to the secondary level. The new building was handed over to the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Education Ministry recently and on the first day 138 children had been enrolled to the school.

Addressing a gathering, Sabaragamuwa Province Chief Minister Maheepala Herath said that the unity of Dapane villagers is an example to the entire country. "These people have taught the country how to overcome issues in a friendly manner. While people tend to protest over minor matters, the people in Dapane have chosen a more productive way to arrive at a fruitful conclusion" Chief Minister Herath said.