Kekulu Pre-School opened by Red Cross Ampara Branch

06/02/2012, Padiyathalawa, Ampara: The Sri Lanka Red Cross Society (SLRCS) Ampara branch has opened a Day Care Centre for pre school kids in the Padiyathalawa division in the Ampara District.

The intake of this year’s children has superseded 50 as the school has certainly helped to make a mark in the lives of the children in the area.

Padiyathalawa is located within the Ampara district. Population in the area is 17,889 while 17,861 are Sinhalese and segments of Tamil, Muslim and other nationalities constitute the minorities. 17,841 follow Buddhism while Islam, Christian and Hinduism form the balance.

Padiyatalawa belongs to the dry zone and has an annual temperature of 82 – 85 F. Petite rainfall the area receives is from May to August. The main source of income of the community is cultivation of maze and vegetables. Due to the inadequate water supply, paddy cultivation is done only in Maha season in a small scale. Padiyathalawa DSD is one of the most depressed areas in the Ampara District of which 86.48% of the families are low-income earners.

The Pre-School now provides primary education to 51 students who come from very low-income families. The German Red Cross funds the project.

For more information of the school please contact the Branch Executive Officer of the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society’s Ampara Branch Prasantha Udayakumara on 0773953192.