Pakistan sponsors construction of school building

The Government of Pakistan has sponsored the construction of a three storied state-of-the-art school building in Gampaha district to support the education sector developmental drive of the Sri Lankan Government.

The High Commissioner of Pakistan Seema Ilahi Baloch today handed over a cheque for the construction of a three storied school building in Pasyala, Gampaha to Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa at the Sri Lankan Presidential Secretariat.

The said school is named as Babussalam Maha Vidyalaya and it comes under the purview of the Education zone of Minuwangoda.

The foundation stone of the project was laid on 9 February 2011 by the High Commissioner of Pakistan, Seema Ilahi Baloch and Basil Rajapaksa, Minister of Economic Development. Work on the construction of the school project is continuing with swift progress and the project is expected to be completed by the end of the current year.

All efforts are being made by the concerned Sri Lankan Authorities with the assistance of Pakistan High Commission in Sri Lanka to ensure the quality of construction and its rapid completion.

This project would add to various projects carried out by the government of Pakistan in health, education and livelihood sectors in Sri Lanka. These projects include construction of the District Hospital, Akurana; equipping science laboratories in schools, 30 computer centres and six stitching centres; providing ambulances to hospitals; award of Jinnah scholarships to students for continuation of education; and the award of long-term scholarships for study of medicine, engineering, dentistry, and pharmacy in Pakistan.

The total project cost for the construction of the said school is estimated at SLRs. 49.2 million, out of which the Government of Pakistan is providing partial funding of SLRs. 14 million as grant through its High Commission in Colombo.

The newly constructed school will be catering to the local population of Pasyala area. Presently, the school has an enrolment of over 500 students (both male and female), with 19 teachers as the instructional staff for the institution.

The three storied building would add 7200 sq.ft. of floor area to the school, it will include all the modern facilities including a library, a fully equipped home science laboratory, computer laboratory, and class rooms.

During the ceremony the Minister of Economic Development appreciated the support and cooperation by the Government of Pakistan for a noble cause. The Minister said that the Government and people of Pakistan have always supported the Government and people of Sri Lanka.

The civilisational links between two peoples and cultures date back 2500 years, to the time when the Indus and Gandhara civilisations and Buddhist culture had prospered in what is now Pakistan.

Both countries have made impressive efforts to preserve and build on these solid foundations. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in 1948, the two countries have consistently maintained close, cordial and mutually supportive relationship.

The school construction project in Pasyala is expected to create professionals amongst the young citizens for the future benefit of Sri Lanka and it will further cement the good relationship between the two great nations.

It should be emphasised that the collaboration in the field of education between the two brotherly countries will definitely uplift the intelligence of the people.

With this project the Government of Pakistan has reiterated its continued support to Sri Lanka in enhancing the younger generation’s nation building capacities with better educational opportunities.

Only strong societies will have resilience to sustain the emerging challenges, as strong societies make stronger nations. Pakistan and Sri Lanka need to help each other to be stronger in the face of contemporary challenges.