December 12, Colombo (LNW): The Ministry of Education has unveiled a new initiative, titled “Prathishta”, aimed at restoring schools across Sri Lanka that were damaged during the recent natural disaster.
Secretary to the Ministry, Nalaka Kaluwewa, encouraged organisations, community groups, and individuals to contribute to the nationwide school reconstruction effort. He stressed that all contributions and coordination would be managed centrally through the Ministry to ensure an organised and effective response.
To facilitate support, the Ministry has established a dedicated hotline, 1988, as well as two WhatsApp contact numbers—07765 823 65 and 071 99 323 25—allowing donors and volunteers to obtain information or register their support. The Disaster Management Committee within the Ministry will oversee all activities related to the project.
Preliminary assessments indicate that over 1,500 schools across the country sustained damage, with the Northern Province bearing the heaviest impact—330 schools were affected. Other hard-hit regions include the Western Province with 266 schools, the Eastern Province with 221, and both the Central and North Western Provinces with 136 each. Uva Province saw 129 schools damaged, while 115 schools were affected in Sabaragamuwa.
The Ministry noted that these figures remain subject to updates as damage assessments continue. Among the most severe cases, two schools in the Badulla District were reported as completely destroyed, highlighting the urgent need for immediate reconstruction efforts under the “Prathishta” programme.
