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Construction of Pre-School in Thal Aramba on Schedule

Aid Sri Lanka is overseeing the construction of a pre-school in Thal Aramba, Matara. This project is being funded by Travel Aid 50 and PATA.

A recent visit to the site confirmed that construction is progressing well. The foundations have been completed and the construction of the walls should start this week. During the site visit the Aid Sri Lanka Operations Manager spoke with the foreman who confirmed that the work was on schedule. With the monsoon season starting there will be days when it is not possible for the work to continue but the foreman is confident that this should not affect the schedule. Aid Sri Lanka recognises the necessity to ensure that building work is undertaken to a high standard. Since we do not have this expertise and cannot be on the ground every day, we are making arrangements with a French builder, working on a tsunami housing project locally, to undertake regular visits to the site to verify the work is being done to suitably high standards. In addition, an independent surveyor will check the construction at key stages and report back to Aid Sri Lanka. The Operations Manager is in frequent contact with the foreman and the teachers and will make regular visits to the site.

The Operations Manager spent a morning with Miss Anoma, Miss Nilu and the children. The school currently caters for 63 children although the numbers vary each day. The children attend between 8.00-12.00 in the morning and 3.00-5.30 in the afternoon. The teachers have a wonderful enthusiasm and energy, singing, dancing and playing games with the children. The children particularly seemed to enjoy singing nursery rhymes with actions. Some of the nursery rhymes were sung in English and aged 3 to 4 years the children sang along happily making all the gestures.

Classes currently take place in a small classroom in the temple grounds a stones throw from the construction site and they can see the progress on the building. They are very excited about the new school and students, teachers and parents are looking forward to the big move in the Autumn.

Having received assistance post tsunami from a number of agencies in the area, the teachers and children have all the necessary equipment for the moment. Our efforts are therefore fully concentrated on the construction of the new school. However, Aid Sri Lanka is in regular contact with the teachers and will assist if there are unmet needs in the interim.

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