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From P. Rajaratnam in Nuwara Eliya

The Chief Minister of the Central Province W.P.B. Dissanayake, who participated in all events related to the 90th birth anniversary of late CWC Leader and Minister S. Thondaman paid glowing tributes to the late leader, whom he described as a statesman, and a leader who commanded the respect and decorum of all communities in the country, and his contributions to the labour movement within the country and in the international forums were recognised and respected.

The Chief Minister who addressed a gathering at Holy Trinity College here following the opening of the 'Saumiya Cultural Hall' constructed at a cost of 16 million rupees by Minister Arumugam Thondaman, said it was equally a tragedy and unfortunate situation that the educational structure in the whole of the plantation sector has not improved despite the Government's progressive schemes and with the foreign aid coming into the country for the development of Education in the estate sector.

He said he as a member of parliament had the occasion to point out such glaring situations in relation to poor educational situations, and even it got into the hansard at that time. He said such poor situation was due to the shortage of qualified teachers. Hence, he would suggest that a progressive scheme should be envisaged to get qualified teachers from India and ensure that the plantation children attain higher educational standards, and qualify as professionals.

The Chief Minister said he was one of those who was taught by Indian teachers. He said that the ratio of university entrants among this lot was very poor and in the whole of the Central Province, there was hardly any doctors or engineers among the plantation children. He said it was time that the whole educational perspectives in the plantation sector was developed and improved. He said it was useless to have huge buildings and other facilities without qualified teachers.

Distributions of deeds to poor people, letters of appointments to Tamil Registrars of Births and Deaths, and other religious observations were the highlights of the day.

M.S. Sellasamy, a veteran Trade Unionist and Deputy Chairman of the Ceylon Workers' Congress, said it was an occasion to rejoice the 90th birth anniversary of the late leader with whom he had associated for over 55 years, and whose services to humanity was immeasurable. Further he said on this day, the plantation workers have got a wage hike in addition to the plantation workers and others declaring the coming months to be the Peace Zones all over in the country, on account of the Peace Process in the move.

V. Puthirasigamony MP and old boy of Holy Trinity College, Nuwara Eliya the prime mover to set up the new cultural centre and who initially set apart 30 lakhs of rupees, whilst he was the Central Provincial Education Minister said that he considered the day as a great occasion and he hoped the up and coming students of this college will make use of this facility fully.

Muthusivalingam MP, Provincial Minister, V. Radhakrishna, Principal of the School, S. Chandrasekaran, H.M. Herath Abeyweera and several others spoke.

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Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
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