New international pre-school at Diyatalawa Camp

by Jayampathy JAYASINGHE

Drafts of cold air blowing across the pine trees came direct at us as we stood on a hilly road leading to the international pre-school of the Sri Lanka Air Force Base at Diyatalawa last week. The opening of the pre-school was scheduled for the morning hours of January 16. What was noticeable was that hills in the distance enveloped in fog obscuring its view. But as sunlight descended on the hills the fog eventually disappeared thus making the mountains resplendent. The pre-school is located in the Diyatalawa base camp overlooking a hilly terrain in the horizon. It's a picturesque sight with pine trees as tall as 200 feet and multi-coloured flower beds that add beauty to the environment.

Pre-school kids accompanying the chief guests to band music.

The chief guest Air Chief Marshall Roshan Goonatilleke and the Seva Vanitha Chairperson Nelun Goonetilleke were warmly received by a bevy of pre-school kids. The kids were dressed in tiny skirts and shorts, their uniforms carrying musical instruments of the pre-school band. After garlanding the chief guest, the kids accompanying the guests marched smartly in the direction of the pre-school to the tune of the band music with precision. The kids put up a great show that captivated everyone present on the occasion including their parents. The refurbished and upgraded pre-school was ceremonially opened by the Air Force Chief, Air Chief Marshall Roshan Goonatillke on the invitation of the Seva Vanitha Chairperson Nelun Goonatilleke. A formal ceremony took place at the venue where several service personnel, a large number of pre school kids including their parents were present. The Commanding Officer of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) at Diyatalawa, Air Commodore Lal Perera and other high ranking officers were also present.

At the opening ceremony, Air Chief Marshall Roshan Goonetilleke said the SLAF's Seva Vanitha had successfully completed several projects initiated by them in the past. He thanked the Seva Vanitha for initiating high quality projects such as setting up of international pre-schools. "We decided to raise pre-school education level to give kids who will be our future leaders a sound education."

The SLAF, Seva Vanitha Chairperson, Nelun Goonatileke said they have undertaken to upgrade SLAF's pre-schools to international standards with the aim of providing every child an equal opportunity for a quality education regardless of their financial or social status. Carefully planned text books and internationally recognised curriculum in English provide an insight into effective learning methods.

She said children's education can be further upgraded by providing them with modern classroom facilities, selected professionals and with dedicated teaching staff. Extracurricular activities at international pre-schools include swimming, arts and craft, music, dancing, speech, drama etc.

SLAF’s Seva Vanitha Chairperson Nelun Goonetilleke comforting a pre-school kid.

She nevertheless emphasised that SLAF's pre-schools cater not only to children of service personnel but those of the civil society in the neighbourhood as well. We spoke to a proud parent, Anuradha Samindra Perera, a sailor from the Sri Lanka Navy attached to a naval base in Jaffna whose little daughter Chamudhya Diviyangani was admitted to the international pre-school a fortnight ago. His little daughter attends the pre-school with much enthusiasm, he said. Shasika, the little daughter of Woman Sergeant Perera also attends the pre- school regularly and takes part in games with much enthusiasm. Flight Lieutenant Munasinghe says that he is happy that his three year old daughter attends the pre-school. The significant thing was the distribution of Saving Pass books among the children plus a till by the People's Bank to encourage savings. The kids too had a fair share of fun and frolic screaming, yelling and watching what was happening. They were treated with lots of chocolates and biscuits which they kept munching non-stop.

Diyatalawa was chosen as the venue for the new international montessori pre-school as large numbers of service personnel are stationed there.

The pre-school includes a library, an Upper Kindergarten, Lower Kindergarten and a Bay Class. Apart from this there are Seesaws, Swings and slides in the school compound for the kids to play. The pre-school project was started under the patronage of the SLAF's Commanding Officer Air Commodore Lal Perera and SLAF Seva Vanitha Chairperson Nelun Goonatilleke. SLAF's another landmark was the setting up of a National School at Trincomalee for the benefit of the children of service personnel.