‘D. A. Rajapaksa left exemplary legacy of public service’
Lakshmi DE SILVA
The four sons of late Parliamentarian D.A. Rajapaksa, President
Mahinda Rajapaksa, Minister Chamal Rajapaksa, Defence Secretary
Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa MP
were at the BMICH yesterday evening to hear his 42 Commemorative oration
delivered by Prof Karunaratna Hangawatte, of the University of Nevada,
USA.
Ministers, members of the Diplomatic Corps, members of the clergy and
other distinguished invitees were present at the event. Prof
Hangawatte’s lecture was on Building Social Capital on the Foundation of
National Unity for a Resurgent Sri Lanka.
In the oration he said D.A. Rajapaksa has left an exemplary legacy of
public service and a set of values rooted in the Sri Lankan heritage.
Sri Lankan heritage is rooted in Buddhism and is influenced by the
philosophical doctrines and practices of Hinduism, Christianity and
Islam, particularly characterized by the values of compassion unity and
caring for others.
This year’s commemoration is very significant because the year 2009
marks an important milestone in the history of Sri Lanka. Driven by the
legacy of the late D.A. Rajapaksa, his progeny had led the way to
finally free the nation from the grip of violent and vicious terror that
had plagued Sri Lanka for several decades. It was no secret that the
national and international community stand in gratitude and salutes the
President for his unwavering leadership, our defence leaders and
personnel for their enormous sacrifices, the public servants and the
civic community for bearing the burden of untold suffering,” Prof
Hangawatta said.
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