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COLOMBO, May 23, 2007: A tsunami reconstruction project from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) will construct or rehabilitate ten vocational schools in the East and South and help young Sri Lankans acquire skills to lead them toward rewarding careers in a fast-growing sector of the economy, according to US Ambassador Robert Blake.
Ambassador Blake was speaking at the signing of a $5.4 million agreement between Access Engineering Ltd. and CH2M Hill, USAID’s prime contractor for USAID’s $50 million Sri Lanka Tsunami Reconstruction Program (SLTRP) to construct five of the schools in the tsunami-affected South. Last week, USAID funded another contract to construct four similar schools in the East.
“I’m very excited about this project,” Ambassador Blake said. “Training young people in vocational trades promises to boost both family income and the health of the southern coastal economy.”
Managing Director Dilshan Ferdinando represented Access Engineering at the ceremony, which also included Vocational Training Authority Chairman Gen. T.W. Ponnamperuma, USAID Mission Director Rebecca Cohn, and CH2M Hill Chief of Party Teny Mittal.
“We appreciate the opportunity to make an additional contribution to U.S. efforts to help Sri Lanka rebuild after the tsunami,” said Ferdinando. “We assure you our work will meet with your satisfaction.” Access also holds the contract for the fishing harbors element of the SLTRP.
The schools will teach trades in high demand by the Sri Lankan workforce, such as masonry, plumbing, welding and carpentry, in Hikkaduwa, apparel in Koggala, plumbing and appliance repair in Talalla, small engines in Tangalle, and hotel skills in Ahangama.
The school in Ahangama is special for another reason: it is designed to be an environmentally-friendly “green” school certified by the US-based Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), the worldwide certification for sound environmental design. With a sister school in Samanthurai, Ampara District, Ahangama will be the first LEED-certified schools constructed in Sri Lanka.
“We hope that these two schools can set a precedent for environmentally sound design in public buildings all over Sri Lanka for years to come,” Ambassador Blake said.
USAID will also supply the schools with all necessary items such as furniture, tools, sewing machines and other commodities to make them fully functional. Construction will begin immediately and be completed by June 2008.