Provincial NEWS

Project to activate Wayamba schools

Kurunegala North Group Corp.

A program has been launched to reopen all schools in the Wayamba province which remain closed during the last ten years, said Wayamba Provincial Director of Education, Ashoka Jayasinghe. Students' attendance in these schools is poor owing to despicable standard. Out of a total of 1,225 schools in Wayamba 210 cater to less than 50 students and 164 to between 51 and 100, he said.

The new program to be implemented on the initiative of the Chief Minister, Athula Wijesinghe anticipates to provide adequate human resources to small rural schools.

Upgrading of eight urban schools as President's Colleges, facilities to teach English and Tamil languages and appoint a teacher to each primary class where there is a minimum of 10 students. Since parents make every attempt to admit their children to popular schools in urban areas, the rural schools are relegated to disuse, he claimed. Action has been taken to reopen 35 schools as an initial step.

Jobs for graduates under Mahinda Chintana concept

Anuradhapura Addl. District Corr.

Steps would be taken to relieve the problem of graduate unemployment. In terms of Mahinda Chintana, priority would be given to recruiting graduates, to fill vacancies in the State and the private sectors. Tharuna Aruna is a program designed for that purpose.

Employment have been provided to 324 graduates through the Tharuna Aruna program, said NCP Chief Minister, Berty Premalal Dissanayake addressing a ceremony at which 186 graduates were appointed to positions in the State and the private sector within the North Central Province.

With education comparatively at a higher level in the NCP, adequate facilities have been provided for arts, science and commerce streams. Computers have been provided to 782 schools and actions have been taken to fill vacancies for science, English and aesthetic teachers.

It is also the sole responsibility of students, teachers and parents to shoulder the burden of achieving success in higher education, he said. The Chief Minister gave an undertaking that action could be taken shortly to provide employment to the remaining 10,000 graduates in the NCP. Provincial Council Minister, Gamage Wirasena, Provincial Councillor, P. B. Dissanayake and several officials participated.

Move to restore ancient paintings

Nimal Wijayatunga, Eheliyagoda Special Corr

Steps have been taken to restore the precious ancient wall-paintings of Eheliyagoda Mahara Purana Vihara by the Department of Archaeology.

Kuruwiti Korale Judicial Sangha Nayaka, Prawachana Keerthi Sri Wadhiba Singhe and Viharadhipati the Ven. Asgangula Wimalarathana Thera said these valuable paintings are more than 400-year-old and needs proper care for the preservation. These paintings depict 'Jathaka' stories character of depict the Lord Buddha and floral designs.