December 21, Colombo (LNW): Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya met with a UNICEF delegation at the Prime Minister’s Office yesterday (20) to discuss efforts to restore schools damaged by the recent natural disaster.
During the discussions, the Prime Minister outlined government measures aimed at safeguarding students and rehabilitating the school system, while acknowledging the difficulties faced in the recovery process. She emphasised that reopening schools in landslide-prone areas could endanger students, and authorities are identifying such schools for relocation to safer sites based on scientific assessments.
The Prime Minister also noted that financial support has been provided to affected students, enabling parents to send their children back to school without added economic pressure. She highlighted the vital role schools play in promoting children’s mental health and well-being in the aftermath of disasters.
Key areas of focus include relocating vulnerable schools, repairing and upgrading infrastructure, merging certain schools for joint operations, integrating digital learning solutions, and providing specialised transport facilities. Long-term strategies are being developed to ensure these measures are sustainable and effective.
UNICEF officials praised the government’s commitment to education recovery and reaffirmed their support for ongoing and future initiatives. The meeting also explored opportunities for closer collaboration on educational programmes in disaster-affected regions.
The delegation included UNICEF representatives Emma Brigham, Lakshmi Sureshkumar, Nishantha Subash, and Yashinka Jayasinghe. From the Ministry of Education, Secretary Nalaka Kaluwewa, Director Dakshina Kasturiarachchi, and Deputy Directors Kasun Gunarathne and Udara Dikkumbura attended the session.
