School Library Project

Moneragala district is one of the poorest districts in the country. Majority of the people in the district survive by subsistence agriculture. The Poverty Headcount Index compiled by the Department of Census and Statistics (DCS) for 2019 was 21.0% for Moneragala district well above the National average of 14.3% and entire rural sector of 15.0%. The mean household income per month was Rs 55,211 (~US $178.10) in Moneragala district in 2019 compared to the national average of Rs 76,414 (~ US $246.49) and Rs 132,433 (~US $427.20) in the Colombo district (Household Income and Expenditure Survey 2019 by DCS). Further, as per the ‘Sri Lanka Prosperity Index’ compiled by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka for 2021, the Uva province (comprising Badulla and Moneragala districts) has been ranked at 9th position, i.e. the least prospered province in the country.  

The above statistics would have further worsened in ensuing years due to the impact of Covid-19 pandemic and the economic recession in the country (economic growth was a negative 7.8% in 2022). The unprecedented inflation in the country in 2022/23, reaching nearly 70% (food inflation was 94.9%) in September 2022 as measured by Colombo Consumers’ Price Index (CCPI), has aggravated the poverty condition in rural areas. The Annual Report of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka for 2022 states that “The surge in inflation caused a significant deterioration in the real income of households, while loss of livelihoods, particularly in the informal sector due to the crisis has exacerbated the household burden” (Box Article 5, page 127).

Amidst these developments, education related expenses of households have increased more than three fold in recent years.  There are many families in the area who find it difficult even to purchase excise books for their children. In particular, the Government does not provide with text books and other printing materials to G.C.E. Advanced Level students. Majority of households in Wellawaya Education Division do not own mobile phones that support at least to have Internet connectivity. At the same time, students who follow Science, Mathematics, Technology or Commerce streams do not have access to suitable library facilities at their schools. As a result, students are frustrated as they cannot achieve their educational goals.

Government schools in major cities have access to plenty of educational resources, possibly more than what they need, compared to rural schools. Those city schools are having a qualified and well-trained teaching staff, the vital educational resource, in sufficient numbers. They have ample access to other facilities such as laboratory, Library and Internet. However, only a tiny fraction of such facilities are available to students in rural areas like Wellawaya. That clearly reflects the unfair distribution of educational resources in the country.

The Wellawaya Divisional Education Office oversees 31 schools. Out of them, one school is a Central College (National School) and 7 are Maha Vidyala (Senior High School). Remaining are Junior Schools and Primary Schools. Among these schools, only the National School has a fairly good library with suitable building facility, though there is no Internet facility. At the same time, required technological equipment is not available in the school for practical sessions and effective teaching.

Therefore, if it is possible to set up at least one library with required facilities in one of these schools, it would be an invaluable investment on children in the area. There is a severe dearth of books for the subjects such as Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, ICT, Engineering and Science for Technology.  Hence, it is difficult to expect that children in the area would acquire required knowledge and use that knowledge for inventions and effective production of goods and services.

Finally, we would like to highlight the quote “Reading makes a man perfect”

Executive Committee

Hada Mituru Sansadaya

Base Hospital

Wellawaya