(Colombo Lankapuvath): The Fiscal Management Report 2009 presented by the Ministry of Finance and Planning Sri Lanka stated, that the Government channelled over Rs. 62 billion by end August 2008 and accorded high priority for education.

In 2008, 75 schools were selected to be developed under the "Isuru School Programme". This programme was designed to upgrade one school from each Divisional Secretariat to a fully fledged secondary school.

Rs. 220 million was provided for Navodya School Programme to construct new school buildings and purchase equipment during 2008.
The report noted that The Model Primary School Project developed to eradicate inequality among primary schools was implemented successfully during the first eight months of 2008.

Rs.142 million was utilized for construction of buildings, rehabilitation of schools, provision of sanitation facilities, supply of water, furniture and computers.

25 computer labs were installed in 25 national schools with the aim of developing IT knowledge among the students.

During 2008, ADB funded 351 computer labs under the Secondary Education Modernization Project. It also provided 90 percent of equipment to the same centres.

According to the report, financial assistance given on Higher Education sector was increased from Rs.20 billion in 2007 to Rs.21 billion in 2008. It was utilized for university infrastructure development, undergraduate education development, improvement of e-learning, developing of distance education, infrastructure development of advance technological institutes and strengthening research facilities.

Courtesy: Lankapuwath.lk