Students should protect, promote Sri Lankan identity - President

Chaminda Perera

Sri Lankans have gained enormous experience, talents and fortitude which no other country has even thought of in the course of eliminating a terrorist outfit in the country and time has arrived to make use of them to win the world, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The President was of the view that the student population should be encouraged to protect and promote the Sri Lankan identity in face of various opinions, attitudes and criticism that are coming into the Sri Lankan society.

The President was addressing the special general assembly of Royal College, Colombo to mark its 175th anniversary at the College Sports Complex yesterday.

President Rajapaksa was accorded a Guard of Honour by the college cadet platoon on arrival at the venue. The cancellation of the first day cover and a new postage stamp also took place as a part of the program to celebrate the College’s 175th anniversary.

The President opined that children should not confine themselves to academic studies.

He added that they should focus on vocational skills and lingustic knowledge. The students of many communities and religions and social status are studying in this college, he said.

He said that the students of Royal College should ensure that they make best use of resources that have been made available to them.

“Knowledge plays keyrole in our endeavour to make the country a miracle of Asia”.

President Rajapaksa stressed the need of making the country a nerve centre of naval, trade, tourism, air and knowledge.

He added that the Royalists should be proud of their Alma mater for producing outstanding personnel who brought international reputation to the country in their respective fields.

“Outstanding Royalists who showed numerous achievements in their respective fields, have spent their student life in a meaningful way.

The President stressed that the students of the Royal College have unparallel opportunities to pursue many fields ranging from Information and Communication Technology to agriculture.

“Learning is a cumbersome process and all learned people laboured thorough many hardships to gain knowledge” , he added.

He said that Royal College, Colombo as the first State school in the country should guide the nation. President Rajapaksa said that Royal College proved itself that it is capable of guiding the nation during the recent past.

The President also commended the achievements made by the college in the sphere of IT sector.

He added that the parents of Royal College students can check the arrival and departure time of their children to and from the school through the Internet.

He opined that the ICT should be utilized to propagate the country’s centuries old heritage to the world too.

“We can disseminate information our indegenous medical system, local industry, Buddhism and th country’s rich history to the world through the ICT, he added.

President Rajapaksa emphasized that the people of this country should not think that our country is very small.

“It is the duty of the people to prove themselves that Sri Lanka holds an important place in the world.

Royal College Principal Upali Gunasekera, Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, Urban Development Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and Deputy Economic Development Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya were among those present.