Almost three decades of armed conflict severely affected the education of children in the northern and eastern provinces of Sri Lanka. Physical damage to schools and other educational facilities destroyed not only a familiar and important part of the local community, but also affected the educational experience of thousands of children for many years.
Australia has supported Sri Lanka to address this challenge by contributing $10 million in partnership with UNICEF to reconstruct, repair and refurbish up to 20 schools in the northern districts of Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu.
Pallai Central College and Massar Government Tamil Mixed School were the first two schools reconstructed under this program. A ceremony to mark the official handover of these schools was held on 12 August 2011 in Kilinochchi. The then Australian High Commissioner, Kathy Klugman, and the Governor of the Northern Province, Major General G.A. Chandrasiri, were the chief guests.
When Australia stepped in to help reconstruct these schools, both were largely destroyed as a consequence of decades of conflict. Most classes were conducted in the open air, water and sanitation facilities were limited and teachers were unable to teach for the entire day.
Pallai Central College–the biggest secondary feeder school in the area that serves children from all over the region–was destroyed during fighting back in 1996. Students of that school have been without proper infrastructure facilities for over 15 years and most have been displaced multiple times.
The new structures that have been constructed will provide a better learning environment with larger classrooms and improved facilities for nearly 2000 students in the area.
Assistance for school reconstruction is part of a commitment of over $80 million by Australia since October 2009 for housing construction, demining, large scale cash transfer programs and food assistance to conflict affected districts in Sri Lanka.