The government had invested Rs. 10,000 million on the 500 school building commissioned yesterday under the ‘Nearest School the Best School’ Programme, he said. The Shishyoda Special and Integrated Education National Institute is providing these ‘Shishyoda’ centres to the country’s education system in order to ensure equal education opportunities to all children. The government spent Rs. 360 million on this programme alone, Wickremesinghe said.

The Prime Minister declared open a two-storeyed administrations and evaluation building and auditorium, a three- storeyed smart classroom building and, the lecture hall built at the centre. Thereafter, he went around the centre on an inspection tour.The Prime Minister also observed children undergoing water therapy at a special swimming pool built at the centre to provide illuminating water therapy to children with neuro problems.The school also is equipped with a hostel to accommodate 100 children.