New Al Aqsa School in Pottuvil is second school to be opened in Schools Re-awaken project
The newly rebuilt Al-Aqsa School in Pottuvil was declared open on Saturday in a colourful ceremony amidst a large gathering of distinguished invitees and visitors.
Rotary Sri Lanka together with Standard Chartered Bank is rebuilding 25 schools destroyed by the tsunami throughout the country in their “Schools Re-awaken Project” – an initiative that will enable nearly 12,000 children to go back to their very own ‘model’ schools.
The Chief Guest on the occasion was PDG K.R.Ravindran, Trustee Designate of the Rotary Foundation and also Chairman of the Apex Committee that administers the schools rebuilding project. Also on hand was a host of local dignitaries, including Centennial District Governor Lucky Pieris, present District Governor Nihal Bogahalande, representatives from the Ministry of Education, the Standard Chartered Bank, the Lead Club – the Rotary Club of Kandy, and the tourist Board.
The town of Pottuvil is situated in the East coast of Sri Lanka and is a good eight-hour journey from the city capital Colombo. However, the many people who were up at dawn to travel down to Pottuvil for the historic occasion were afforded a very enriching experience and able to truly savor the fruits of their labour.
There was a carnival atmosphere in the town and it seemed that its entire population had turned up for the event.
A gaily decorated pandal was erected across the road about 500 metres from the school which marked the beginning of the day’s proceedings. At the pandal, the invitees were greeted in traditional custom by the School Principal Mr Farook and officials of the Ministry of Education and then conducted in a colourful procession to the new school.
The senior school band led the procession on the roadway which was lined by students of the school on either side and then through an archway created by the school scout troop smartly clad in their shiny scout uniforms.
Two specially designed plaques were unveiled by Chief Guest Ravindran and District Governor Nihal Bogahalande at the entrance to the new school.
The group was then taken on a conducted tour of the new school by the Contractor. A special stop on the tour was to inspect the new staff quarters that were specially built for the Principal and Senior staff of the school.
“Today is a very significant day for Rotary Sri Lanka and it sees the fruition of some wonderful work done by many different groups all working together in true Rotary spirit” said Chief Guest Ravindran who endeared himself to the audience by delivering his entire speech in Tamil – the local language of the area. Addressing the students he added, “we have given you this beautiful new school with all modern facilities and you must use them and study hard”.
The efforts of Rotary were summed up precisely by one of the parents present on the occasion. “If you gift money or clothing to a person you give him relief only for a limited period, but when you build a school you are helping generations of children”, said Ikram, the father of two girls who are students of the school.
