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"C. W. W. Kannangara who initiated the free education system in this country was a leader of the United National Party. Our duty is to develop this system qualitatively and not to take away what a leader has initiated.

At the previous cabinet meeting Rs. 750 mn was approved for uniforms and Rs. 614 mn for printing of textbooks. We who made good use of the free education system will not by any means deprive our children of this facility," said Karunasena Kodituwakku, Minister of Education, Culture and Higher Education, in his address as Chief Guest at the "Diriya Daruwo" Scholarship Awards Ceremony held for the 5th time, sponsored by the Prof. G. L. Peiris Foundation, at the Vishaka Vidyalaya recently.

"Diriya Daruwo" Scholarships have been awarded by the Foundation to 101 students on the recommendations made by the relevant school principals, considering income levels and aptitude of the students sitting for the 2004 GCE Advanced Level examination in the Colombo district.

Minister Kodituwakku said the stumbling blocks in the free education of this country are those university students who disrupt the process. The situation is such that close upon an annual expense of Rs. 10 billion is wasted due to the activities of certain unions and some disruptive student groups. We do appreciate the rights of a trade union. But on lines of fighting for their rights if they disrupt the education process of our children there is no other crime greater than this.

"Prof. G. L. Peiris is a Professor today having emerged from our own educational set up through the University of Sri Lanka and subsequently Cambridge in postgraduate studies. So have Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and I. Almost half of the Cabinet Ministers today are products of our own educational arena. We know the importance of education. Under this government, in fact, there has been progress in the educational sector. Although recruitment to public service was stopped, 7,000 teachers have been recruited by the Ministry of Education in the years 2002/2003. Approval has also been obtained from the Treasury to recruit 3,000 more."

"The objective of the Prof. G. L. Peiris Foundation is to send forth to the society youth that would contribute to the development of the nation. As much as the scholarship scheme enables this opportunity, the character of Prof. G. L. Peiris - Chairman of the Foundation is alone, a very good example to our students. Prof. Peiris has not only held the titles of Doctor, Professor, Dean and Vice Chancellor but has also emerged as Cabinet Minister in charge of key areas," he said.

Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris - Chairman - Prof. G. L. Peiris Foundation said Our selection criteria for scholarships did not in anyway include political connections. The objective of the "Diriya Daruwo" program is to lend a hand by creating the foundation for an underprivileged, talented and intelligent child who faces financial and other difficulties in furthering his studies, to continue in his studies without any obstacles. We have not limited it to just exams, obtaining degrees and certificates. Education is a complex subject. Development of human resources cannot be achieved only by passing exams. We have to prepare an educational programme to cover all aspects that would create a perfect individual, with focus on spiritual, cultural, aspects temperaments, etc., and all other angles.

"Our main resource is the human resource which we can be boast of. Preparing the necessary grounds for our educated youth grooming towards leadership is also an objective of the Foundation.

"Our students should be conscious of the problems faced by our society. For some reason the mechanism that is needed to resolve certain minor problems that crop up, before they escalate, has not been established in our society. Not only minor issues but national issues too have to be nipped in the bud.

They could have been resolved 20-25 years ago. It is not in our society to apply practical measures to resolve a problem at the proper time. We attempt resolution when it is too late. We should change this mentality totally. If we are to achieve this we should apply the necessary changes at early childhood stage when attitudes are flexible. We have considered all these facts in our syllabuses of the Foundation, he said.

Minister of Schools Development Suranimala Rajapakse said Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris is a prominent figure in this country. Managing the University, functioning as Vice chancellor he has done great service towards development of the educational sector. This opportunity afforded by the Prof. G. L. Peiris Foundation, is a very bountiful gesture having identified the importance of education, with the hope of making our future generation perfected in all aspects, and giving them the right to change the country's course of direction through their own creativity and talents. I therefore request the children, to be firm in their aspirations by adding to their lives the strength derived from programmes such as this, initiated through humanity and compassion.

Ms. R. N. Amarasinghe, Principal of Visakha Vidyalaya, Prasantha Perera - Lecturer of the University of Colombo, addressed the gathering whilst among those participating were Titus Perera - Chief Organizer of the governing party and Chairman of Colombo UC, Sagara Senaratne - Member of UC, Anil Koswatte - Chairman of Lanka Cement Ltd, Swarna Obeysekera - Chairman National Designs Centre together with parents, students and other invitees. Scholarships were presented by Minsters and Members of the UCs. A cultural show was presented by the students of Visakha Vidyalaya.

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