Yahapalana project has become victim of current political expediency – Stalin

By Rathindra Kuruwita

The ‘Langama Pasala, Hondama Pasala’ (nearest school is the best school) project, launched by previous government to develop schools, had been halted, Ceylon Teachers union (CTU) General secretary, Joseph Stalin said yesterday.

Stalin told The Island that Rs. 64.9 billion had been earmarked for the project between 2016 and 2020. Under the project 18,000 facilities were to be constructed in 9,063 schools.

“This project has been ignored since the 2019 regime change. Now, the construction of various facilities in 700 schools has been halted. These half-completed buildings have become a serious burden to schools. In some cases, old buildings were demolished to make way for the new ones to be built.”

The CTU General Secretary said that 40% of the funds had been released to provincial councils in 2016. The project was riddled with corruption from the beginning, and the CTU had even lodged a complaint with the Bribery Commission, Stalin said.

“For example, money was allocated for a building at Nachchaduwa Sinhala School. However, there is no such school. There are many such examples. However, the current administration can’t just abandon this project. The government cannot halt half completed projects of the previous government. Instead of trying to finish the half-built buildings, this government has launched its own project to develop 1,000 schools.”

Stalin said that they had expected the current Minister of Education to adopt a more holistic approach to education, given his qualifications and experience. “However, the situation remains the same, he said.