Schools in the Mullaitivu district continue to face severe resource shortages, with many institutions operating with only a single computer, said Vanni MP Durairasa Ravikaran during a parliamentary session this week.
Ravikaran called for equitable distribution of resources among schools in the region and praised the perseverance of students who have excelled nationally despite significant challenges.
Ravikaran pointed out that many schools in the Mullaitivu and Mannar zones lack basic facilities, including computer centers, health workers, and non-academic staff. Even night watchmen are scarce, compounding the difficulties faced by students and educators. “Many schools in Vanni district still do not have sufficient electronic resources,” he stated, emphasizing that the lack of computers and related infrastructure severely hampers education in the region.
The Vanni MP also drew attention to the dire state of sports facilities in the region. He noted that students lack proper training grounds, equipment, and instructors. These deficiencies make the recent national successes of Vanni students even more remarkable.
Among the notable achievements celebrated by Ravikaran were those of Anton Jesudasan from Thottaveli Government Tamil Kalavan School in Mannar, who won gold in the javelin throw at a national school-level athletics competition, and Subaskaran Pavithra from Bandaravanniyan Mahavidyalaya in Mullaitivu, who clinched gold in wrestling. Ten students from Mullaitivu also earned medals in national wrestling competitions, while Ratheesh Santosh from Vallipunam Mahavidyalaya placed sixth in the national shot put event.
Despite these successes, Ravikaran stressed that these achievements were made in the face of overwhelming odds, including the absence of essential resources and infrastructure. He called on the Ministry of Sports to address the lack of support for students in the Vanni region.
The plight of schools in the North-East reflects broader inequalities in development across the island. Before the armed conflict, Jaffna had one of the highest literacy rates on the island. However, decades of war left the North-East devastated, with infrastructure and public services struggling to recover. In several development markers the North-East continues to lag behind, with resource allocation often failing to meet basic needs.