Towards a worthy cause
Uvindu ILLEPERUMA
The three decade war is now a past memory. With the conclusion of the
humanitarian mission by the armed forces of the Sri Lankan Government
all possible measures for the effort of rehabilitation must be adopted
forthwith.
To meet the welfare needs to return to normalcy for the war weary
people should be the first and the foremost concern of the society.
Catering to the preliminary needs of the people and taking the necessary
steps to uplift education, which is belabored by the strife, must be the
utmost concern.
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Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka accepting the book load.
Picture by Saman Sri Wedage |
As it has been instrumental in extricating the innocent civilians
from the jaws of worlds' most ruthless terrorist out fit the Government
of Sri Lanka is now on a mission to meet the basic needs of the people
in welfare camps in the large interest of its ability.
In the exercise of developing a healthy environment in pursuit of
meeting the educational necessities of the children the support the
government receives from certain INGOs is quite admirable. 'Room To
Read' is one such International Non Governmental body whose mission is
to shield the rights and opportunities for a sound education which are
likely to be hampered by poverty, strife etc. World change starts with
educated children is the unwavering thought of this organization.
'Room to Read' partner with local communities throughout the
developing world to provide quality educational opportunities by
establishing libraries, creating local language children's literature,
constructing schools, providing education to girls. They seek to
intervene early in the lives of children in the belief that education
empowers people to improve socioeconomic conditions for their families,
communities and future generations. Through the opportunities that only
education can provide Room to Read strives to break the cycle of
poverty, one child at once.
In a bid to support the Government's efforts to rehabilitate the
North and East Room to Read handed over 10 million worth book load to
Prime Minister Rathnasiri Wickramanayake in an occasion held at the
Prime Ministers Office.
"Reading is the only option available to garner knowledge. Today the
world economy is knowledge based. Reading is a necessary pre requisite
to keep you abreast with the changing world. If we are separated from
the global process we will be lost. The gathering of knowledge is the
responsibility of the younger generation if they aspire our country to
be a Promised Land." said the premier.
He remembered that Room to Read organization always stands close
behind most of the Government's efforts of developing the education
sector in Sri Lanka
Addressing the gathering Glenfrey de Mel, the Country Director (RtR)
said, "We left no stone unturned on behalf of the Government to access
the goal in the field of education. We established many libraries island
wide. The only aspiration of these exercises is to urge the back born of
the country to inculcate the reading habits within them. This year we
have published 18 books both in Sinhala and Tamil language. What we want
to emphasis the children of this country is that they can add more value
to their lives through reading. This year we thought it best to focus
much attention on the children who are in the welfare villages."
One of the prime objectives of the organization is to nourish the
children during their formative years.
Dr. Leel Gunesekara appreciating the worthwhile efforts of the Room
to Read said, "10 years ago there were only 900 books for children. Now
it has been increased to most probably 5000. This is a positive trend.
The books published by Room to Read meet the psychological prospects of
children. We hope they would do more in the future as they have already
proved their potential to do so via theses projects." |
