Guide students on right path - Media Minister

P. P. G. Suagthadasa Thihagoda group corr.

The Government spends a colossal amount of funds to provide a quality education for the child population in Sri Lanka. It is therefore the duty and prime responsibility of all teachers to impart them a sound knowledge and guide them on the right path to be useful citizens in this island, said Minister of Media Lakshman Yapa Abeywardana.

He was addressing an awards ceremony held at the auditorium of the Divisional Secretariat Office, Thihagoda. The event was organised to mark Local Government Week 2008 by the Thihagoda Pradeshiya Sabha.

The Minister said the Pradehsiya Sabha is a State institution working closely with the people. Necessary initiatives to improve infrastructural facilities in their respective regions are initially taken by the local bodies concerned. Peace is essential for the sustainable development and socio economic prosperity in the country.

The several decades old scourge of LTTE terrorism has been the obstacle on the march towards the successful socio economic uplift in this country. President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his Government are endeavouring to wipe out terrorism from Sri Lanka.

He said the fullest support and cooperation of all parties shunning political hues and other trifling differences would be imperative on the Government's mission to usher durable peace and steady development in our Motherland.

Former Parliamentarian for Matara District and SLFP chief organiser for the electoral division of Kamburupitiya Ranjan Wijewardana said that in spite of the humanitarian mission to eliminate Tiger terrorism the present administration has not curtailed development activities in the country.

He said Gama Neguma, Maga Neguma and Jathika Saviya National Development programmes commenced on the concept of Mahinda Chinthana of President Mahinda Rajapaksa are successfully progressing in the district of Matara.

He also expressed his deep sense of gratitude to President Mahinda Rajapaksa for granting Rs. 10 million for the infrastructural development in the Kamburupitiya electorate for the current year.

Chairman Thihagoda Pradeshiya Sabha Nirmal Samarasinghe, OIC, Thihagoda Police Station, Sudath Masinhe, Member Thihagoda Pradeshiya Sabha, Pemawanse Perera and several others also spoke.

Distribution of prizes and certificates to winners of inter-school oratorical, debating, arts and dance competitions held in the Thihagoda education division, parallel to Local Government Week in the current year was done by the Minister of Mass Media Lakshman Yapa Abeywardana and other invitees.