On 22 January, His Excellency Mr Fabrizio Pio Arpea, Ambassador of Italy to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, and UNHCR Representative, M Golam Abbas, participated in the opening ceremony of the newly renovated teachers’ quarters within the Puthukkudiyiruppu Central College in the Mullaitivu District. The ceremony was organized by the Central College and UNHCR Kilinochchi with attendees including students and representatives from Government institutions and civil society.

UNHCR Representative Mr M. Golam Abbas and His Excellency Mr Fabrizio Pio Arpea, Ambassador of Italy to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, at the PTK Central College opening ceremony.

Construction of the teachers’ quarters represents one phase of a multi-year project which also included renovations to the laboratory, library and classrooms within the Central College. The project helped improve access to education for 1,500 students and was funded by the Veneto Region of Italy and UNHCR as a part of a joint initiative that began in 2012 and was expanded in 2013 to include a school in Mullaitivu and a pre-school in Kilinochchi. “We are all happy to see how our collective contribution lends to building a brighter future for children,” stated Ambassador Arpea. To date, the Veneto Region has donated 150,000 EUR to the initiative, while UNHCR provided technical and logistical support to the Rural Development Foundation and Sevalanka, two of its partners who implemented the project.

“UNHCR is pleased to be a part of this initiative with the Veneto Region of Italy,” the UNHCR Representative added. “The successful implementation of this project not only helps children access education but also helps facilitate reconciliation efforts in areas that were devastated by the conflict.”
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For further information on this topic, please contact:
Emily Hill, Executive Assistant, UNHCR, Colombo, Sri Lanka
(hille@unhcr.org)