School reconstructed...:

Kalmunai comes alive

The eastern coastal town of Kalmunai came alive to celebrate an extraordinary international effort by SriLankan Cares, Lufthansa Technik, Help Alliance, and GTZ which enabled a school of 1,500 children to be reborn from the devastation of the Tsunami.

The modern buildings of Al Bahriya Maha Vidyalaya, constructed at a cost of Rs. 78 million in just eight months, were declared open recently. They include a new 3-storey building of 27,950 square feet with 18 classrooms and the rebuilding of three badly damaged buildings which house 20 classrooms.

The school has been equipped with two Computer Rooms 42 PCs and 2 Servers, which will introduce young minds to the wonders of modern technology.

The buildings include support facilities such as a Music Room, Dance Room, Toy Room, Library, Counselling Rooms, Assembly Hall, Staff Room, a Library, and a Science Lab.

Peter Hill, CEO of SriLankan Airlines, said "this project is a model of international co-operation. I thank our partners in this team and also the staff of SriLankan Airlines. We are all very proud of what's been achieved and look forward to hearing of the future successes of the children of this school.

August W. Henningsen, CEO of Lufthansa Technik, said: "Thousands of Lufthansa employees donated money to show their solidarity with the people of Sri Lanka after the Tsunami. May all the students who pass through this school learn how to build a peaceful future."

A. Athambawa, Principal of the school, students, teachers and parents turned out to welcome the CEO of SriLankan Airlines, Rita Diop (Chairperson of Help Alliance), Dr. Johannes Bussmann (Vice President Marketing & Sales of Lufthansa Technik), Volrad von Lutzau (General Manager Facility Management of Lufthansa Technik) Dr. Roland F. Steurer (Country Director of GTZ), and Chandana De Silva (Head of Corporate Communications at SriLankan).

Rita Diop, Chairperson of Help Alliance, said: "This was an enormous project with a lot of pressure, and everyone who was involved worked very hard to make it happen. We are confident that this school will help us in our goal to create a better world for children."

Dr. Roland F. Steurer, Country Director, GTZ, also said, that the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) is proud to be a partner of this joint venture between Sri Lanka and Germany.

(CM)

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