All communities join to celebrate Children's Day in Trinco

[TamilNet, Saturday, 02 October 2004, 13:05 GMT]
Pre-school teachers and children of Tamil, Muslim and Sinhala communities, participated in the International Children's Day event held in Trincomalee Friday organized by the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) with the support of Pre-School Education Development Centre (PSEDC). Simultaneous translations were provided in Sinhala and Tamil during the proceedings, sources attending the event said.

Large number of Muslim pre-school teachers and children are received at the TRO's International Children Day event

Ms Jeya Thambiah, Assistant Director of Education (Early Childhood Development) of the North East Provincial Education Ministry was the chief guest and Mr.S.Thavanathan, Assistant Director of Education was the guest of honour.

TRO Trincomalee District Director Mr. Kiruba, Eastern Director Mr.Ceaser and TRO Financial Head Mr. Chandran also attended the event, which was held at New Silver Star Hotel. TRO Trincomalee Project Officer Mr.V.Kalaivarnan presided.

Teachers and students of about twenty-three pre-schools participated in the event in large numbers. The Trincomalee district office of the TRO and PSEDC organized the event.

Chief Guest Ms.Jeya Thambiah, Mr.Kalaivarnan of TRO, Ms Nithiyapraba of PSEDC and TRO Eastern Director

Ms Thambiah in her address said the government or any other organization has no interest in the development of children under the age of five. Only in the northeast province TRO with PSEDC has formulated policy for the Early Childhood Development and implementing it with the assistance of provincial education ministry.

Mr. Kiruba said he was glad to note children of all three communities participated in the event. This showed all communities wanted a war-free country and permanent peace. About 20,000 children have lost their parents in the two decade-old war, he reminded.

Mr.Thavanathan and Mr.Sahul Hameed, a Director of the TRO in Trincomalee spoke. Mr. Reginald, a Sinhala pre-school teacher also spoke.

Pre-school students staged several cultural plays. The participants of the plays were awarded with prizes and certificates.


Pre-school children parading with their teachers before the sports meet

Chief Guest Ms Jeya Thambiah speaking

Play by a nursery school children

Ms Nithayapraba, C-ordinator of the PSEDC in Trincomalee district made the welcome address. Elders were also honoured at the event.

Earlier on Thursday a sports meet was held for the children of pre-schools in Trincomalee at Mc Heyzer Stadium to mark the International Children's Day. About two hundred children participated in the event.