* President assures parents and children at Vakarai
Maha Vidyalayam grand opening:
A bright future for Vakarai
* Never forget this is your motherland
* Today’s children would become kings
tomorrow
Rasika Somarathna in Vakarai
President Mahinda Rajapaksa during his second visit to Vakarai since
its liberation yesterday assured the people who had undergone many
challenges and hardships due to terrorism, that they had a bright future
ahead.
The President who received a rousing welcome from the people of the
area during his visit, declared open the new Vakarai Maha Vidyalayam
built on the rubble of its former tsunami/terrorist devastated
structures. The school is now considered as the most modern and
technically advanced in the Batticaloa district.
The European Union which contributed Rs. 300 million for the effort
said that the school stands as a monument to triumph over adversity for
the people of Vakarai and next generation Sri Lankans.
“This reconstruction work on one of the largest schools in the
Eastern Province is a commendable example of international cooperation,
together with the participation of the Government, non-government and
community organizations irrespective of ethnic or religious
differences,” the EU quoting the President in their message said.
|
Muthuhettigama re-remanded |
The EU Ambassador in Sri Lanka Bernard Savage said “It is with great
pleasure that Vakarai MV is gifted to the present and future students
from the generous people of Europe as a token of their longstanding
friendship with Sri Lanka.”
President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing the students during the grand
opening of the rebuilt Vakarai MV advised them to equip themselves with
quality education using the modern facilities available, as it was one
thing which could not be robbed off them. “Coupled with quality
education you should also cultivate good moral habits and humane
qualities to become a good and productive citizen,” he added.
As the President reverted to Tamil after a few brief sentences in
Sinhala he was greeted with a thunderous applause from the people who
had gathered in their numbers ,both inside the auditorium and outside
it.
The President while acknowledging the warm applause from the crowd
which lasted during the entire duration of his speech said “This is our
motherland and we are children of the same mother.”
“Dear children, never forget that this is your motherland. As such
you should think what you have done for the country so far and what you
could do in the future. You are flagbearers of the Nation and the ones
who should protect this country tomorrow. Today’s children are the ones
who would become Kings tomorrow.”
Also President told the grateful people that it was time to rebuild
the Nation under one flag as terrorism had been defeated.
He noted that the era where people had used cyanide to commit suicide
was over. “Now you can go to your Hindu temples, schools, market, paddy
fields and for fishing and bath in the sea freely and without fear,” he
added.
He said that ethnic divisions would not exist in the future and there
would be no minorities. “We all should work together to propel the
Nation towards sustainable development,” he noted.
The President also said that Vakarai was now on the fast track to
development. “Facilities such as new infrastructure, schools,
electricity, transport, health facilities, employment generation avenues
are coming up on a daily basis,” he added.
Minister, Prof. G.L. Peiris said that it was important for the
international community to understand that what had being achieved in
Sri Lanka was a herculean task.
He also said that Sri Lanka with the dawn of peace was now in a
position to use its inherent strengths and added that these would be
used as pillars of future development.
Education Minister Susil Premjayanth, meanwhile added that the
Government’s intention was to give all Sri Lankans equal opportunities
in education irrespective of where they live.
Eastern Province Chief Minister S. Chandrakanthan, National
Integration and Reconciliation Minister V. Muralideran and Disaster
Relief Services Minister Ameer Ali, EU Ambassador to Sri Lanka Bernard
Savage, also spoke.
The event was also attended by IOM Chief M. Abdikkar, Nation Building
Minister Susantha Punchinilame, Senior Presidential Advisor Basil
Rajapaksa MP, Wimal Weerawansa MP, Eastern Province Governor Rear
Admiral Mohan Wijewickrema, other politicians, military and the public. |