THE CHALLENGE FOR PANAMA SCHOOLS AND OTHER SRI LANKAN SCHOOLS
Panama School, like most Sri Lankan schools, wasn't destroyed by the tsunami. What happened was that many schools were used as temporary refugee camps. Others had to double their numbers to accommodate displaced children, many of them orphans, coming from the coast.

Sri Lankan schools were generally in a very poor state, even before the tsunami struck. Even when schools were untouched, the children themselves had lost friends and relatives, and were traumatised.

Our link school in Panama has received no outside aid or support except that provided by Astley Community High School. That is why our link, and our ongoing support, is so important.

DIRECT CONTACT WITH PANAMA SCHOOL
Due to the schools remote location and relatively poor level of resources, there is no direct electronic link to the school. E-Mail contact is via the secretary of the charity Success Sri Lanka, Mr Ananda Kahawatte.

PANAMA MAHA VIDYALYA SCHOOL
(PANAMA SENIOR SCHOOL)
SRI LANKA

WHY SRI LANKA?
Once a decision was made by the School Council to become involved in a long-term project, it was then a case of identifying a scheme.

Pupils agreed it was now irrelevant which particular country, race or religious group we tried to support. We would aim to give help, ideally to a school, which had been in an area affected by the tsunami.

Astley’s Headteacher knew a Sri Lankan doctor who might be able to give us some help in this matter. The School Council agreed, so in February and March 2005 contact was made with this doctor, Dr Ranatunga.

WHY SO LONG IN GETTING STARTED?
It took nearly 6 months to formally establish contact with the Panama school. This was because:

- The tsunami had caused massive disruption right across Sri Lanka. Communications were badly affected.

- The Panama area in the south east is relatively remote.

- Direct communication links to the school were not possible – no email, fax or telephone.

- Language problems – not everyone speaks English, although the contacts in Sri Lanka have good English.

- Ensuring everything was legal and above board. We wanted to ensure aid would get through to those who needed it.

- Political problems in Sri Lanka – Government elections and an ongoing civil war.