2nd lead (adds correction)

UNICEF, GTZ assist to restore education in tsunami hit Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 February 2005, 14:29 GMT]
German Technical Co-operation (GTZ) on behalf of the German Government and UNICEF Thursday inaugurated a project to provide learning and teaching materials to a total of 21,500 students in 95 schools in the Trincomalee district as a part of the joint effort to restore education for children in the tsunami affected areas. The event was held at the Nilaveli Tamil Maha Vidiyalayam, a school that lost 32 students in the tsunami disaster in the Trincomalee district, sources said.

NICEF supplied learning and teaching materials to 12,700 students and GTZ to 9000 students.

GTZ distributed materials like school bags, uniform clothes and UNICEF 204 boxes of teaching materials to 95 schools, sources said.

UNICEF Trincomalee zone head Ms Gabrielle Elroy, GTZ Senior Advisor to GTZ supported Basic Education Sector Programme (BESP) Dr.Gerhard Huck, North East Provincial Education Ministry Secretary Mr.R.Thiayakalingam, Trincomalee Zonal Director Mr.K.Thilakaretnam and Director Planning of the Provincial Department of Education Mr.S.Varathaseelan and education officials attended the event, sources said.

Mr.Thiagalinkam expressed his thanks to the GTZ and UNICEF, two leading agencies in supporting education.

Dr.Gerhard Huck expressed hope that in spite of the enormous disaster caused by the tsunami, the impressive response that has followed from every one can be a catalyst for new opportunities and new collaboration beyond traditional ethnic borders.

Ms Gabrielle Elroy stressed that getting education up and running in an emergency situation is even more important than in a regular situation since in addition to ensuring that children do not miss out on their learning, it is key to help them regain their childhood and restore the rhythm of regular life. Both organization GTZ and UNICEF assured that they are continuing to support the Government of Sri Lanka beyond the reconstruction needs caused by the tsunami.