[Achievements]

Srilal Gomes Best Photo Journalist

Journalist Srilal Gomes was awarded the Benedict Hapuarachchi Memorial Award for Best Photo Journalist for his contribution to uplift the Catholic Literary field in Sri Lanka.

The Award was presented at the Catholic Literary Award Ceremony held at the OCIC Centre, Colombo, on October 25.

Picture shows Srilal Gomes receiving the Award from Rev. Father Shantha Sagara Hettiarachchi, Chief Editor of 'Gnarartha Pradeepaya' and Deputy President of National Catholic Writer's Association, Leonard Hapuarachchi.

Open School Unit wins UNESCO Literacy Award

S. Dunaisingh Head/ Senior Lecturer of Open School Unit, National Institute of Education accepting the award from UNESCO Director General, Ms. Irina Bokova, at the UNESCO Head Quarters in Paris.

The Open School Unit of the National Institute of Education(NIE) won the annual Literacy Award of UNESCO for 2015- one of the five nations selected for the honour. The Award, was created in 1967 to encourage innovative programs in literacy at international level.

The Open Schools Unit of the NIE in Maharagama with 20 operational units across the country, applied on behalf of Sri Lanka. Sixty three countries applied for the Award for 2015.

The operations in Sinhala and Tamil mediums, met the criteria through various projects implemented to ensure sustainability of the literacy acquired by learners in the Sinhala and Tamil media.

Five countries which exhibited excellence under five different categories were awarded prizes, medals and certificates. Sri Lanka won the award for ‘Literacy and Future Sustainable Development’ for its service in ensuring that learners met the tutor and vice versa in providing literacy as well as for raising learner vocational skills. The Unit’s endeavour to bring national cohesion through programs implemented via its regional centres were also given consideration.

Some regional units have introduced programs to help school dropouts to rejoin the informal school system, while other regional centres have encouraged children affected with disabilities to join mainstream society.