Deyata Kirula exhibition showcased history and created sense of
patriotism - Deputy Finance Minister
Chaminda PERERA
|
Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, President’s Secretary
Lalith Weeratunga, Chief of Defence Staff, Army Commander, Navy
Commander, Air Force Commander, IGP and the Director General
Civil Defence Forces and Director General Media Centre for
National Security visited the Deyata Kirula exhibition at the
BMICH on Saturday. They visited the stalls maintained by the
Tri- Forces, the Police and Civil Defence Force and Defence
Ministry. Large crowds visited the Deyata Kirula exhibition
which ended yesterday.
|
Deputy Finance and State Revenue Minister Ranjith Siyabalapitiya
yesterday scoffed at the Opposition’s allegations that the Deyata Kirula
exhibition devoured public funds.
He said it is the Opposition’s tradition to criticise whatever is
done by the Government.
“We received Rs. 12 lakhs as net profit from last year’s exhibtion
which was granted to the Cultural Affairs Department and the President’s
Fund.
This year too the exhibition was conducted in a transparant manner
and there is no such financial mismanagement or irregularity.
The Minister said Parliament would be notified how the Government
spent funds on this exhibition. “I will present a full scale report on
the exhibition to Parliament soon, the Minister said.
This exhibition mainly sponsered by the private sector showcased our
great history and created a sense of patriotism in the minds of the
younger generation, the Minister said.
He thanked the Police, Armed Forces and the media for their support
to make this exhibition a success.
People in their thousands thronged to witness and personally
experience the Government’s development endeavour through the Deyata
Kirula mega exhibition at the BMICH which ended yesterday.
Street dramas, Cultural shows, competitions and a host of other
events were staged at various places in the exhibition premises while a
mega musical show was held every night catering to different public
tastes.
Schoolchildren and youth thronged the defence stalls eager to observe
the victories acheived by our Forces in their efforts to bring peace to
the country.
They gained comprehensive knowledge on the operation of hitec weapons
such as Multibarrel, fighter helicopers and jets.
|
Vanniyela Aththo visited the Deyata Kirula exhibition at the
BMICH yesterday. Here he interacts with officials at
Presidential Public Relations Office stall. Picture by Samantha
Weerasiri |
The Armed Forces also educated them on their victories in the war
front and how the enemy is retreating in the face of unbearable pressure
exerted by them.
The visitors were captivated by the way the entrance to the
exhibition has been desgined creating a natural atmoshpere in the
exhibition premises.
Many foreign countries also showcased their goods and services
available in Sri Lanka to tap more business avenues in the local market.
The Malaysian High Commission had three stalls to promote Malaysian
trade, tourism and university education. An official of the High
Commission speaking to the Daily News said the public response toward
their tourism stall was very good.
“Sri Lankan students paid equal attention to the Malaysian education
stall. They are very interested in studying in Malaysia as it is
affordable,” the official said. A Pakistani trader who exhibited carpets
in his stall says there was tremendous potential in Sri Lanka for his
products.
“My stall is always crowded with people inquiring about the quality
and prices. They are very interested in Pakistani products,” he said.
China, Malaysia, Russia, Rumania and Pakistan displayed their
products and services and were very encouraged by the public response.
|
