Background of the School
Sorikalmunai is situated in Ampara district where all the ethnicity and religions find their home. It is about 6 km from Sammandurai. The majority of the inhabitants of Sorikalmunai are farmers and they follow catholic religion. In 1808 during the time of Rev.Fr. Johnsalvoz , a Jesuit missionary, Mr.PanguwalMuthaliyaar donated a land for a school. In 1823 a school was started and the Bishops and Priests contributed much towards the development of the school.
The knowledge of English which the people acquired from the Priests and Religious sisters helped the people to find themselves in better position. Something noteworthy to be mentioned here is the Mr.Juwanpillai, the first Deputy Government Agent of Eastern Province was from Sorikalmunai.
The waves of war do begin to affect the village very badly. Repeated displacement not only disturbed the routine family life but the education as well. Uncertainties of life prompted the people to seek alternative solutions such as early marriages and child labour. The teen ages who began to involve in paddy field cultivation turned to the use of alcohol, because of the irresponsible way handling the money. These factors affected the education beyond words. Education began to rift from their lives.
Another point which has to be mention here is that during the displacement many people of Sorikalmunai began to settle down in other places or migrated to other countries.
Thus bringing back the atmosphere of education is not an easy task. Little by little the school begins to be revived. much attention is now given by the education sector , government sector and religious sector. The timely decision made to include the school under the EU Project through UNICEF AND implemented by Plan International SriLanka is gift to the school.
