School for street children opens in Gothamipura

Rafik Jalaldeen

The first school for street children will be opened in Gothamipura, Borella by First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa and IGP Jayantha Wickramaratne tomorrow.

Chief incumbent of Dharmayathanaya Colombo Ven. Elle Gunawansa Thera said the country has successfully eradicated terrorism and it’s now time to unite to fight against crime.

“Considering future security of the Colombo city and the country, we have taken action to develop the life of street children by providing free education. A school will be opened for street children for the first time in the history of Sri Lanka on June 11,” he added.

The school for the street children was built with the assistance of Civil Defence Committee, police and some other organizations. “In the initial stage, 50 street children will be admitted to this school. They will be provided school uniforms, text books and meals. The lessons will be conducted by trained teachers,” he added.

Ven. Gunawansa Thera noted that a hostel for street children will be set up in the Colombo city.

“We are planning to build a hostel for the street children to keep them monitored. Therefore, we will need more funds to continue this process,” he added.

Schools for street children will also be started in the outstation towns of the country in near future.

He requested parents who did not want their children to bring them to this school before the child got dumped in garbage or get killed.

IGP Jayantha Wickramaratne observed that most of the top criminals and underworld gangsters have been street children.

“It is a great thing ever one can do for these children and for the country by providing them education. We wanted to show them the real world and life by admitting them to this school or else they would fall into the criminal category when they grow up,” he added.