Rs 10 million Kuwait aid for Eastern University development
The Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development has agreed to fund Kuwait Dinars 4,500 million (Rs 10 million) for the construction of a building complex for the Faculty of Healthcare Sciences (FHCS) of the Eastern University.
An administrative building, building complexes for academic departments, theatres and laboratories, IT multipurpose hall, auditorium, library, boys and girls hostels, academic and non academic staff residences, guest houses, postgraduate and research units are to be constructed.
Construction of a playground with a pavilion, electricity and water structure and networks, including a small substation and water tank, and provision of internet facilities.
Construction of access roads to the Faculty of approximately 2 km and roads of approximately 2 km within the Faculty premises, landscaping, provisions of furniture for the administrative and academic buildings, provision of teaching, research, medical equipment and two vehicles under the project.
The Eastern University of Sri Lanka was established in 1986 as the 9th National University and now the university functions with a Faculty of Commerce & Management and a Faculty of Arts & Culture.
In addition, in 2004, Cabinet had approved to establish the FHCS for the Eastern University.
The FHCS functions with 6 departments and 5 batches of undergraduates are following the MBBS course and BSc Nursing course. The FHCS has already produced 143 Medical Graduates and 9 Nursing Graduates. The present student population of this faculty is approximately 410, while Academic and Non Academic staff is about 60.
The Faculty is in a separate location from the main campus premises in Vantharumoolai, Chenkalady and housed in Batticaloa, in a building taken over from the Paddy Marketing Board.
The mill houses and paddy stores have been modified and are currently being used as laboratories, lecturer halls and offices. The facilities offered through these improvised building spaces remain very limited, and the students are faced with numerous hardships to follow their studies.
In view of the space issue, the main aim of the project is to shift the FHCS to a separate location in Pilleyaradi. The existing land area reserved for this faculty in Pilleyaradi is over 50 acres.
Two hostels for male and female undergraduates were declared open by Minister of Higher Education & Highways Lakshman Kiriella last month.
The FHCS functions with 6 departments and 5 batches of undergraduates are following the MBBS course and BSc Nursing course. The FHCS has already produced 143 Medical Graduates and 9 Nursing Graduates.