Boost for education in Moneragala

By Naalir Jamaldeen

Steps have been taken to set up primary schools in villages in the Moneragala district. School children in these villages undergo immense difficulties. A program to set up laboratories have been implemented under the Mahindodaya program, Uva Province Chief Minister Shashindra Rajapaksa said.

He said that the Sipsara Udhanaya program was implemented to improve the standard of eduction of children in the province. After implementating this program the education standard of children in the province has improved.

"Under the Guru Udhanaya program principals in the Monaragala district were trained at the Meepe Education Institute.

They provided training in school administration", Rajapaksa said.

While addressing a workshop organised by the Government Information Department for the Provincial Journalists in Moneragala district under the theme "The Role of Provincial Journalists for district development, Chief Minister Rajapaksa said that there was a shortage of teacher instructors in the province.

Instructors were selected through an interview conducted by graduates and teachers. Nearly 220 teacher instructors were appointed and they serve in various parts of Monaragala district. In addition 1,500 primary teachers were also appointed in the district.

Meanwhile 2,763 graduates have been appointed to the Government service. Improving the education system is vital to develop other sectors. Human resource development takes importance among other sector development, Rajapaksa said.

He expressed confidence that from next year the graduates in the province will be able to join the Government service.

"There were 28,000 broken chairs and tables in the schools in the province and all of them were repaired with the help of Vocational Training Institute at a cost of Rs. 9 million. Eighty nine schools in the province were developed", Rajapaksa said.

He said that the a feasibility study is conducted jointly with the Cooperatives and Internal Trade Ministry to set up a Dedicated Economic Centre in Monaragala district. The shortcomings of other Dedicated Economic Centres will be taken into consideration when the proposed Monaragala Economic Centre is set up.

"Road development projects in the district have been completed. A large stretch of road in the district has also been carpeted. Kumburupitiya-Okkampitiy through Maligawila, an access road to Buttala from Monaragala, Buttala-Badalkumbura, Udawalawa-Thanamalvila and Katharagama-Buttala roads are among them", Uva Chief Minister Rajapaksa said.

He said under the first phase the roads which come under the provincial Council were also carpeted. Approval has been granted by the Government to implement the second phase of the project and works on the project will commence shortly.

"The provincial Council implemented a rural road development program along with the Road Development Authority during the 2012-2013 period," he said.

Rajapaksa said that 156 bridges and culverts were constructed along the main roads.

Plans are afoot to develop all access roads leading to religious places. Ministry of Economic Development allocated funds to implement these projects.

"Uva Province Irrigation Department was set up in 2010 to address the irrigation problems of the farmers in the province. Irrigation sector development projects were implemented no sooner the Department was set up. When I assumed duty anicuts, bunts, and the canals were in a dilapidated condition. Approximately 1,900 dilapidated tanks, canals and anicuts were identified for renovation. Nearly 400 tanks were renovated.

Nearly 380 irrigation sector development projects have been implemented and 52 of them are in progress. Rs. 560 million were allocated by the Government to implement these projects.

Rajapaksa said that attention has been paid to increase the contribution of the Monaragala district for national food production.

With the increase in production market opportunities must be provided to gain maximum benefits.

Monaragala district is known for various fruits which are identical to the dry zone.

Fruit production in the district must be promoted. Providing market opportunities is important to promote the fruit production in the district, he said.

The fruits produced will be categorized into four classes A, B, C and D. A class fruit items will be exported while B class fruit items will be for the local market, C class will be supplied in the district and the damaged fruits or vegetables will be classified as D class which will be used as animal feed.

A refrigeration system will be set up to to preserve the fruit and vegetable items. A refrigeration system will be set up with the support of the private sector institutions.