School destroyed by tsunami is rebuilt by SOS Children's Villages Sri Lanka

On 5 January, The Al Misbah School in eastern Sri Lanka that had been destroyed by the tsunami in late 2004, was officially opened. SOS Children's Villages has rebuilt the school from scratch and it is currently being attended by 1,500 students.

"We are overjoyed to see this school functioning again! After the tsunami destroyed it, we almost lost hope. Ever since 2004, educating our children in this region was nearly impossible. This troubled part of Sri Lanka owes a lot to SOS Children's Villages for taking on the mammoth task of investing in the region's future," said a community leader at the dedication ceremony.

This school is situated in Kalmunai, 300 kilometres east of Colombo and 45 kilometres south of Batticaloa - right on the conflict-ridden east coast. The tsunami catastrophe made the situation even worse for the development of this region, already badly affected by the civil war. The coastal Ampara district, where Kalmunai is located, reported more than 10,000 tsunami casualties - about a third of Sri Lanka's total death toll.

The Minister of Child Development and Women's Empowerment, Mrs. Sumedha G Jayasena, inaugurated the school in the presence of SOS Children's Villages President Helmut Kutin and many other representatives of SOS Children's Villages. Over 2,000 people, mostly students' parents, witnessed the ceremony. SOS Children's Villages of Sri Lanka rebuilt the almost completely destroyed school building and handed it over to the community in November 2008. The minister applauded SOS Children's Villages for taking action in ensuring the future of Sri Lanka's children by ensuring their education.

A total of 58 classrooms were constructed, along with an administrative room, a staff room, a science laboratory, a library, a multimedia room, an aesthetics room, a counseling room, a toy room, an agriculture room, a computer lab and an activity room.

While the new school was still under construction, classes were being held in temporary shelters. "Sitting in the temporary shelter was tough. It got so hot in the afternoons we couldn't even have proper lessons; arts and crafts classes didn't take place at all during this period. Now, everything is set up and ready," said a student.

When the 2004 tsunami's waves slammed into the shore, the school was open and classes were in session. Most of the structure was destroyed immediately, 106 students died. NGOs who took up activities in the region after the disaster shied away from reconstructing the school due to its massive infrastructure and financial implications. The government of Sri Lanka asked SOS Children's Villages to take on the reconstruction of the school, which started in 2006. The foundation stone was laid in January 2007.

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