Jinaraya School

B) Jinaraja Junior School, Weligama – New Building and renovation programme

This School is located in Weligama, in the Matara District, in Sri Lanka and has 292 students. It conducts classes for girls and boys from grade one to grade 11. Twenty-two new students and a number of teachers from a school that was destroyed by the Tsunami have joined the school. More Tsunami affected students could be schooled in the Jinaraya Junior School.

Jinaraja Junior School Opening Ceremony on October 8, 2005

Saturday 8 October was a day full of joy at Jinaraja Junior School in Weligama. Students, teachers and parents, along with representatives of the Donor, Kiwanis Club Saarbrucken, Germany and the Directors and staff of Sahana Foundation and Barberyn Resorts realized their dream of upgrading the school facilities.

The extensive building programme included the following:

  • Three new class rooms which can be used as a large school hall as well
  • Complete renovation of two buildings of Primary Section of the School (new roof and floor and partitions)
  • New toilets for the students
  • New office for the Principal and the Deputy Principal
  • Two teachers staff room

The images below capture the traditional ceremonies associated with an opening of a facility or a new beginning.

Construction process

Laying the Foundation of the new school building

Architect / representative of the sponsors of the project – the Kiwanis Club

Jinaraja School New Building Construction Commences (20 June 2005)

Building in progress

JThe completed class rooms

The school facilities before the new building and renovation

Principal of the Jinaraja School telling Barberyn staff what are the school’s needs with the school buildings in the background.

This is the girl’s toilet in the school but is in poor repair. There is no proper water supply in the school.

The laboratory in the school needs a major uplift. The library cupboard could use more books.

The schoolboys look smart in their uniforms but not all the students have uniforms, socks or shoes.

After assessing the needs of the school with the Principal and Teachers, Barberyn management has developed a project profile to improve and expand this school.

For more details, please click here on the project profile of the Jinaraja Junior School. The Education Department has also given its written approval for all this work.