Schools had been severely damaged in the Dec 26 tsunami which took a massive toll across Indonesia, Thailand, India and Sri Lanka. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
HAMBANTOTA (Sri Lanka) - KAVINTHU Nathigayapotigala had barely entered school when the December 2004 tsunami lashed Sri Lanka's southern coast, devastating the area.
Not in school that day, the 11-year-old has no memories of that event, save for what he has heard from his teachers at Tangalle Primary School.
But when the Primary 5 pupil moves on to secondary school soon, he will take with him memories of a smart new building, complete with a computer room and other amenities.
Tangalle Primary, in Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse's home district of Hambantota, was one of three upgraded and refurbished schools in the island's southern province that was inaugurated by visiting Foreign Minister George Yeo yesterday.
All three had been severely damaged in the Dec 26 tsunami which took a massive toll across Indonesia, Thailand, India and Sri Lanka.
'As Sri Lanka steps out of the shadow of the tsunami and the civil war, I wish you every success in national reconciliation and the rebuilding of your country,' Mr Yeo told his audience, which included Minister for Ports and Aviation Chamal Rajapakse and southern provincial governor Kumari Balasuriya.
Read the full story in Saturday's edition of The Straits Times.
