(a) whether the Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to construct a new multi-ethnic tri-lingual secondary school in Sri Lanka;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the said school is likely to provide opportunities to Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim students to earn in a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural environment; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(DR. MAHENDRA NATH PANDEY)
(a) to (d): Yes, Madam. Ministry of External Affairs has informed that Government of India has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 2nd February, 2017 to construct a new multi-ethnic tri-lingual secondary school in Polannaruwa District in Sri Lanka. This is in response to a specific request for India’s assistance from the Government of Sri Lanka. The project envisages establishing the school by building classrooms, playground and sports facilities, laboratories and library, staff quarters and administrative offices as well as supply of furniture and other equipments on a five acres plot earmarked for the purpose by the Government of Sri Lanka in Polonnaruwa District. Government of India will provide a grant of SLR 300 million for the project.
According to the Government of Sri Lanka, the main objective of the project is to promote social cohesion and national integration among different ethnic/ cultural groups through providing high quality education opportunities in a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural environment. The school would accommodate Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim students from Polonnaruwa district and also from the surrounding multi-ethnic districts viz. Trincomalee, Anuradhapura, Kandy and Batticola.