Mirissa Maha Vidyalaya school project

Mirissa Maha Vidyalaya a secondary school which is situated along the south coast in the District of Matara with classes from grade 6 to 13, had approx 475 students, 50 teachers and 8 maintenance staff. On the 26th of December 2004, like most of the other schools near the coastal areas of Sri Lanka, this school too was affected by the tsunami destroying several buildings, which housed the staff office, library, lab and some classrooms.

Today, Mirissa Maha Vidyalaya is getting a face-lift under the Southern Coast Rehabilitation Program whilst the school is functioning in whatever available space. Students are attending classes, but at the same time constructions have to go on! Many educational centers were converted into temporary shelters or camps while others are completely destroyed and waiting for reconstruction.

At this moment we are building the wall around the school. The classrooms are being cleaned, painted and repaired. The staff office which included the principal's office, the staff room and the administration will be moved into a building which was used earlier as the library. The building, which housed the offices previously will be repaired and soon will operate as the new library. Almost 25% of the books of the former library are ruined. This school urgently needs books and encyclopedias regarding modern science and other subjects to continue their normal education program. The lab was a neglected place through the years and so was the canteen. Both rooms are being repaired and painted so that the students will benefit to the fullest.

Since the 20th of January 2005 a primary school with 400 students (Methodist school in Mirissa) has joined the Mirissa Maha Vidyalaya, because its premises were totally ruined by the tsunami. This is of course a temporary measure taken till they find sufficient funds to rebuild their school.

Although presently not all the students are turning up, the Principal Mr. K.H.J. Kularatne is confident that this will improve once the school is completed. From the 19th onwards we provide a free bus service between the camps, Pelena - and Mirissa school to increase the attendance. The Principle appreciates the commitment that the Belgian relief project has made towards his school, saying it is an intervention where quality and quantity goes hand in hand. Our team is under the supervision of Mr. Luxman Rasaputhram, DGM of the Loadstar factory in Midigama.

You can help by adopting this school! A partially adoption was made by The British School Quito in Ecuador. We hope that both schools will stay in contact and support each other further in the future. Do you also want to take part in this project with your school or organization and help the children from the Mirissa school? Would you like to put a smile on those children's face who lost almost everything? If so, click on "Adopt a Project".