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by Rodney Martinesz

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday declared that the time had arrived to inject fresh thinking in dealing with national problems which had defied solutions within the conventional political framework since independence.

Speaking at a ceremony to felicitate him by the Colombo University Alumni Organisation the premier said that being a product of the free education system from a Sri Lankan University coupled with the fact that he was born after Independence made him look at problems from a different perspective.

The first graduate from the Colombo University to become Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Premier Wickremesinghe observed that the country had reached the distance where its political system had failed in the resolution of problems.

He could not go on this course any more. "Problems that were born as a result of the present political model are yet to be addressed within the existing political framework". "There were speeches made here on how to bring about peace.

At one time, after Japan we were the most developed country in Asia. Today a lot of countries are ahead of us. The problems faced by our youth have yet to be solved."

"How are we going to integrate with the rapidly changing global economy, eradicate unemployment and strengthen democracy?

"We have to think afresh and a new model established if we are to move ahead" the premier stated adding that if the country were to follow the beaten political track not a single problem would he solved.

The Premier observed that fresh thinking in our political set up is needed to confront the myriad of problems that beset the country. This is needed if we are to unite the country, integrate with the global economy and usher in full democracy.

"Are we going to clash among ourselves all the time or are we going to effect changes"? he asked.

He said the grounding he received at the Colombo University in student politics as well as being a product of a Sri Lankan University had prepared him well to face future challenges.

The Prime Minister also impressed upon his former mates in the Colombo University that had be not done politics in the University he would not have been able to attain his present position.

He wished that the alumni of his old university will reach similar heights. The Premier said that it was free education which brought him to where he is today. More than that it is through free education that ordinary village youth were able to reach high positions in society.

He observed that the biggest revolution wrought in the country was free education but stated that while free education should be protected its negatives too should be identified.

"Our free education needs to gear itself for the development of the country. The premier added that our education system should relate to the job demand.

He said our higher education system should be amended to suit the 21st country to enable our youth to acquire various skills.

Going down memory lane the Premier said when he had got through his A/L's he was presented with a dilemma whether to enter London University or a local one.

Three factors decided the issue for him, one was that his grandfather (C.L. Wickremesinghe) who studied in Britain had agitated for a local university, the other was that the London law degree was equivalent to the Lankan degree. There was also the location which was a mere five minutes drive from his home.

I have no regrets whatever, for my decision. I am thankful to be here" he said amidst applause. He recalled that when he entered the Colombo University Walvin de Silva was the Chancellor. He also remembered his faculty Head Prof. Nadaraja and B. Abeywardena.

It was the present Vice Chancellor Prof. Mrs. Savithri Goonesekera, who delivered his first lecture on the then legal system. While Prof. G.L. Peiris lectured him a criminal law.

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Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
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