Navy Petty Officer Bandara tells students:

Obey your parents and look after them well

Chitra Kaluaarachchi Hidogama group correspondent

People of the Rajarata can always count on the blessings of the Anuradhapura Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi. I have always obeyed my parents and looked after them well. All this gave me the strength and courage to defuse a time bomb at the Anuradhapura Sunday Fair and avert a major tragedy, said Navy Petty Officer Shantha Bandara.

Bandara was addressing the gathering at a felicitation ceremony held on February 18 by students and parents of the Hidogama Pavakkulama Singithi Uyana (pre-school) in honour of his heroic feat in defusing an LTTE bomb at the Anuradhapura Sunday Fair premises.

Bandara said as heroic members of the Security Forces they had the courage and strength to face any problem or adversity. A moments delay on his part on that day would have triggered the bomb causing the loss of many innocent lives. If the bomb exploded many children would have lost their parents and many others their loved ones.

Bandara called upon the students to respect and honour their parents in their childhood and care for their spouses when they got married in later life.

Nuwaragampalatha Grama Niladhari Vijitha Lakshman Amarasinghe said human life is a rare blessing and as such every human being should learn to do good in life. The heroic feat rendered by Shantha Bandara was a good example to society.

Pre-school Principal Mrs. Lakshmi Prabha Abeygunawardena who organised the ceremony also spoke.