Sports and games would discipline students:

Children backbone of a country

P. P. G. Sugathadasa Thihagoda group corr

The masses should support and co-operate with President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his administration in the effort to annihilate the brutal LTTE terrorism from Sri Lanka, said Minister of Transport Dullas Alahapperuma.

The Minister was addressing as the chief invitee at the annual sports meet held at Radampola Maha Vidyalaya in Dickwella recently.

He said the government has launched massive and gigantic national development projects while continuing with its humanitarian operations to emancipate the country from the grip of the scourge of LTTE terror.

The Minister said sports and games would discipline the children. No higher attainments in the academic fields could be materialised if the child is morally and spiritually bankrupt. Children are the backbone of a country. The endeavour of parents and teachers would be to guide them on the right path in life and make them good citizens in the country.

He said President Mahinda Rajapaksa declared 2009 as the year of English Language and Information Technology with the noble objective of imparting the children a sound knowledge on these subjects. The Minister said the main aim of this administration would be to achieve sustainable socio economic development and permanent peace in Sri Lanka.

Southern Provincial Council member Bindu Weerasinhe said that to create a disciplined society in the country a proper code of discipline should be put into practise in schools from the lower grades to upper grades and the same should be strictly maintained.

He said our children should be well trained and educated. It would be a pity that some parents have less faith in schools. They have been used to sending their children for tuition classes. It has become a fashion now.

The SPC member said some parents do not allow their children to take part in sports. Therefore he requested the parents to allow their children to engage extra curricular activities as well.

In an era when social, cultural and religious values are fast eroding a religious education for the country is of paramount significance. Dickwella Prad-eshiya Sabha Chairman Krishali Mutukumarana and several others also spoke. Minister Dullas Alahapperuma and other invitees gave away prizes and certificates to winners.