TNA MP gets computers to Trinco schools

[TamilNet, Thursday, 27 February 2003, 22:08 GMT]
Twelve rural schools from Pulmoddai in the north to Verugal in the south of the Trincomalee district have been supplied with computers purchased under the decentralized budget allocation for the year 2002 given to Trincomalee district parliamentarian, Mr.R.Sampanthan. The total cost of the computers and band equipment is about four million rupees, education sources said.

A student lighting the traditional oil lamp at Thampalakamam function while parliamentarians Sampanthan, Thurauretnasingham look on.

Under the decentralized budget, each parliamentarian of the district is allocated five million rupees and is entitled to submit proposals to be implemented in the district for the amount. Accordingly, Mr.Sampanthan submitted his list, giving top priority to the purchase of computers and band set equipments to rural schools, the sources said.

Mr.Sampanthan handed over the computers and band equipment to the respective school heads at functions held Wednesday and Thursday at three places, Nilaveli Tamil Maha Vidiyalayam, Chelvanayakapuram Hindu Maha Vidiyalayam and Thampalakamam Athiy Koneswara Maha Vidiyalayam.

The list of schools that have been provided with computers is given below: Trincomalee St Francis Xavier Maha Vidiyalayam, Trincomalee Vigneswara Maha Vidiyalayam, Nilaveli Maha Vidiyalayam, Pulmoddai Maha Vidiyalayam, Sampaltheivu Maha Vidiyalayam, Salli Ambal Vidiyalayam, Thampalakamam Athiy Koneswarar Maha Vidiyalayam, Alankerni Vinayagar Maha Vidiyalayam, Peraru Parameshawara Maha Vidiyalayam, Muttur St.Antony's Maha Vidiyalayam, Sampur Maha Vidiyalayam and Killiveddy Maha Vidiyalayam.

The list of schools provided with sets of band equipment is given below: Nilaveli Tamil Maha Vidiyalayam, Gopalapuram Tamil Vidiyalayam, Chelvanayakapuram Hindu Maha Vidiyalayam, Tissa Maha Vidiyalayam, Alankerni Vinayagar Maha Vidiyalayam, Konalingam Tamil Vidiyalayam, Eachilampathu Sanpaha Tamil Maha Vidiyalayam and Ilankathurai Muhathuwaram Abirami Maha Vidiyalayam.

Speaking at one of these functions, Mr.Sampanthan said that man's literacy in the future is to be assessed from his computer knowledge. "A man would be considered an illiterate if he failed to obtain computer knowledge."

Mr.Sampanthan further stated that rural students should be assisted in every sphere to compete with their urban counterparts. Computers and band equipments are not only meant for the urban elite groups but also to rural students. Tamil National Alliance national list parliamentarian Mr.K.Thurairetnasingham also spoke at the function.

Six principals of schools with computers and band equipments with parliamentarians Mr.R.Sampanthan, Mr.K.Thurairetnasingham, Provincial Director of Education Mr.S.Mahalingam and Zonal Director of Education at Chelvanayakapuram Hindua Maha Vidiyalayam funtion.