Serving Motherland:

One should be courageous to face setbacks as well- President

Dhanushka Godakumbura reporting from Wennappuwa

Anyone who wished to serve the motherland should not expect only praise and accolades but also brickbats and even jail terms. Such persons should have the courage to face such setbacks but empty individuals cannot serve the country, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday at Joseph Vas College, Wennappuwa.

The President was addressing the diamond jubilee celebrations of the college where he was the chief guest. The President said the younger generation should fortify themselves with academic achievement as well as the fine arts. It was important to speak to the people of any country in their own language and one could not serve the country if one did not understand the language of the people and in today's context schoolchildren should learn both Sinhala and Tamil as well.

When we learn another language we cannot forget our mother-tongue though it would be an advantage to learn English or another foreign language, he said.

Bishop of Chilaw Rt. Rev Dr.Valance Mendis, Principal Joseph Vas College Rev Fr. Sylvester Jayakody, Ministers Milroy Fernando, Susil Premajayanth, Dayashritha Tissera, Neomal Perera were also present.