After the tsunami, Rotary Sri Lanka embarked on the largest educational project ever implemented by a single Rotary District. This was the construction and equipping of 24 ‘state of the art’ schools for pupils aged 5-18 to replace schools damaged or destroyed by the tsunami tragedy.

Project Sri Lanka has linked with several schools associated with this Rotary project and other schools being supported by the Rotary organisation in Sri Lanka.

In particular we have linked with the construction and development of the new school at Moraketiara, in the Hambantota District on the south coast of Sri Lanka.

Here the original Moraketiara school was not fit for purpose and a neighbouring school was washed away by the tsunami. So it was decided to rationalise the educational provision and build a single new school on the Moraketiara site. This re-build completely transformed the 107 year old set of buildings. It includes well ventilated two storey classrooms, a library, science laboratories, computer room, office, staffroom and flush toilets. There is a suitable playground and garden. The science and computer equipment was new in the school, introducing science and technology into what had previously been an all arts curriculum.

The new Moraketiara school was partly funded by the Rotary Club of Alnwick in Northumberland and was opened in 2007. From 2006 we have been involved in assisting with this project through regular volunteer visits for teaching purposes and other contributions to the school.

Project Sri Lanka has also supported the Rotary project’s new school in the town of Ahangama on the south coast of Sri Lanka. Donations to this Dharmarama School include a photocopier and library books and a number of Project volunteers have engaged in teaching here.

In 2013 Project Sri Lanka agreed to work in partnership with the Rotary Club of Colombo Mid-City to build a new Primary school at Mapalagama near Galle, to replace a former school that had fallen into disrepair and collapsed. The new Mapalagama school building has been funded by Project Sri Lanka, the Rotary Club of Alnwick in Northumberland, UK, and other Rotary Clubs in District 1030 in north-east England. Furniture and equipment were provided by a grant from District 1030. Further details of this project and its significance will be found on the Mapalagama village page of this website.