Norway promotes learning in Sri Lanka

[TamilNet, Friday, 03 December 2004, 09:38 GMT]
The Norwegian Government has granted Rs. 11.1 million to purchase library books for 120 Cultural Centres in the island. Norwegian Ambassador Hans Brattskar handed over the cheque to the Hon. Minister of Cultural Affaires and National Heritage Vijitha Herath Friday at the Ministry, according to a press release issued from the Royal Norwegian Embassy.

Fulltext of the press release from the Norwegian Embassy follows:

NORWAY PROMOTES LEARNING IN SRI LANKA

The Norwegian Government has granted Rs. 11.1 million to purchase library books for 120 Cultural Centres in the island. Norwegian Ambassador Hans Brattskar handed over the cheque to the Hon. Minister of Cultural Affaires and National Heritage Vijitha Herath today at the Ministry.

The establishment of Cultural Centres in the island is an important task handled by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and National Heritage. At present there are 120 such Centers functioning. Each Cultural Centre has a library with books for the general public, including schoolchildren and young people who have dropped out of school, to enable them to acquire knowledge and enhance their reading habits.

The Norwegian Government contributes Rs. 3000 million in development assistance to Sri Lanka per year. The aim is to help those who need it the most.

Many communities find it difficult to buy books and other educational materials and a majority of the rural and under-privileged areas lack good library facilities. The Cultural Centres are mainly for communities without sufficient resources to upgrade their educational and social structures.

“Investing in education is the best investment a government can make”, said ambassador Brattskar. Norway is glad to cooperate with the Srilankan government in its efforts to make young and old explore, learn and evolve through these books.