UNICEF in a media release said that it will support the government to complete an additional 11 tsunami-affected schools in the southern and eastern provinces.

Speaking from Colombo, UNICEF’s Chief of Education, Ita Sheehy, said that there was no question that UNICEF will finish the schools, noting that it has already completed 15 schools in Sri Lanka with six more due to open by June 2008.

“We were asked by the Ministry of Education just over a year ago to take responsibility for these additional 11 schools. We have a proven record of completion, and we are fully committed to build these new schools within a time-frame we will share with the community shortly.”

Construction of the 11 schools- Ginthota Maha Vidyalaya and Martin Wickramasinghe Vidyalaya in Galle, St. Servatius College and Mahamaya Balika Vidyalaya in Matara, Abdul Majeed Vidyala in Kinniya, St. Johns Vidyalaya and Arunodaya Vidyalaya in Akkaraipattu, Al-Bahariya Vidyalaya and Sri Mamangam Vidyalaya in Kalmunai; Shams Central College in Maruthamunai, Malharu Shams Vidyalaya in Sainthamaruthu will be in full swing by October.