Kilinochchi, 5 November 2015-- Japanese ambassador to Sri Lanka, Mr. Kenichi Suganuma and his wife Madam Akiko, visited Kilinochchi district this week where he opened the Peptees Preschool in Vivekanadanagar East Village constructed through UN-Habitat’s post conflict infrastructure reconstruction project.

The Peptees preschool is one of 25 preschools constructed by the Rehabilitation of Community Infrastructure and Facilities in the Conflict Affected Areas in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka (RCIF) project. Funded by the Government of Japan, this project was implemented from 2013 - 2015 by UN-Habitat in collaboration with local communities and the Government of Sri Lanka.

Mr. Kandasamy Murugaevel, Director of Zonal Education, Kilinochchi, Mr. G. Nageswaran, Divisional Secretary of Karachchi DS Division, preschool children and their parents, community members and UN-Habitat senior officers also participated in the opening ceremony. The Peptees preschool had been badly damaged during the conflict.

Following the end of the conflict, the preschool recommenced operations in 2011, first in the open air and later in a temporary building. For over 4 years, the preschool functioned with little access to facilities. The construction of the new building, managed by the Vivekanandanagar East Rural Development Society, was completed in May 2015.

The preschool is currently benefiting 42 children. Overall, the RCIF project has benefited 180,000 returnees in over 120 villages in the districts of Mullaitivu and Killinochchi through the reconstruction of vital community infrastructure facilities. The initiatives included construction of 25 preschools, 30 multipurpose community centres, 96 km of internal access roads, 6 km of storm water drainage systems as well as rain water harvesting systems and tree planting initiatives.

The Government of Japan provided funding of USD 3.6 Million (345 million Japanese Yen) for the initiative.