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Leaders also need to be followers- Minister Amaratunga at Aquinas Graduation ceremony

The graduands today go out to the world not only as individuals but also as leaders in different fields of activity. Today leadership concepts have changed. The real leader is one who takes those who are being led, in desired directions while at the same time follows them by listening to them, said Minister of Interior John Amaratunga who was the Chief Guest at the Graduation Ceremony of the Aquinas College of Higher Education on Friday (6th September).

Minister Amaratunga along with Minister of Western Region Development M. H. Mohamed, Members of Parliament Ravinda Randeniya and Hemakumar Nanayakkara and the Mayor of Colombo Prasanna Gunawardene were welcomed by the Rector of Aquinas Rev. Fr. Chrispin Leo and the members of the Academic Staff at the entrance to the Aquinas College and conducted in a procession to the venue of the ceremony - the Don Peter Auditorium.

Minister Amaratunga said that in a world where consumerism holds forth where man's ravenous appetites have to be satisfied with increased consumption God-centered values have tended to be sidelined. The intrusion of economics into the moral field has its disastrous of downside. Poverty, unemployment, frustration and deprivation have made a populace freed of values, to take to crime and violence. It is with this realization the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, has given pride of place to uplift the country from the mire of economic deprivation so as to provide all with needs not only to cover the basic needs of life but also lead a happy and contented life.

However the Minister stressed the need for a new reconciliation to be made with spiritual and material needs, placing the family at the centre". "All of us adult have to give earnest thought to reconstructing our families and give them correct values. The values taught by Aquinas College of Higher Education will go a long way in this endeavour. The graduands who will receive their certificates will launch into society to fill needs of the economy and get married should give serious consideration to this aspect. The family should re-establish stability that gives birth to good values, social relationships and attitudes", said the Minister.

Minister Amaratunga said it is a rare privilege for an alumnus to be invited to grace the most important event of its calendar - the Annual Graduation Ceremony. "It can only mean my escapades, as a student, have been forgiven, or more probably, forgotten", said the Minister.

At the time he entered the portals of Aquinas from St. Joseph's, the Minister said, Aquinas was not as spacious as it is now with fewer classrooms and students. However one feature was outstanding. It had a multi-cultural, multi-linguistic, multi-religious environment. Looking at the graduands gathered that day he could say that tradition has been preserved to this day by Aquinas.

The Minister congratulated the Rector Fr. Chrispin Leo for raising the standards of the institution to what it is today and be part of that rich tapestry of recognized tertiary educational institutions of the country.

Fr. Chrispin Leo, Rector of Aquinas College of High Studies in his address said that they were happy to welcome Minister Amaratunga, who is one of their illustrious alumni to be the Chief Guest. He recalled the time the Minister had his education at St. Joseph's and at Aquinas and having successfully completing studies at the Ceylon Law College practised as an Attorney-at-Law before stepping into politics to give leadership to the constituency of Wattala and becoming the MP for Wattala for the first time in 1978. He recalled the many portfolios Minister held since then and the high positions in which he functioned serving the country.

Said Fr. Leo: "In a society filled with corruption, bribery and violence, our Prime Minister had to look for a person of integrity and responsibility, discipline and decorum. Thus he has placed his confidence in you and appointed you as the Minister of Interior to track down on unhealthy and corruptive elements of society. This is not an easy task when fun and pleasure, corruption and consumerism, suppression and exploitation have become the order of the day. Your desire to go against these trends and forces have already raised their heads by proposing a vote of no confidence in you. Fortunately it turned out to be a blessing in disguise when you turned it out to be an affirmation of people's confidence and credibility in you and a recognition of your integrity and sincerity.

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