Development Vs destruction:

Political leadership crucial

P B Kirindeniya- Nawalapitiya group

Decisions taken by the political leadership lead the countries to destruction or direct development, Youth Affairs Minister Dullas Alahapperuma said.

He said the country lost many things during the past three decades. The people were separated from the rest of the community in the country. The strong and farsighted decisions taken by President Mahinda Rajapaksa have paved the way to re-unite the separated communities. He tries to make a difference in the country and restore the lost glory. Minister Dullas Alahapperuma made these observations addressing a meeting held at the Nawalapitiya Ulapane National Youth Services Vocational Training Centre.

The meeting was followed by laying the foundation stone for a new building to train estate sector youth in dancing and music.

Estate sector youth will be given a two-year training during which period they will be paid an allowance.

The real history of the country had been hidden inside a closed box. It is President Mahinda Rajapaksa who opened the box and revealed the real history to the outside world. During the past 30 years, the Sinhalese hated the sight of the Tamil community and the Tamils hated the latter. That era has come to an end.

Centres like these would pave the way to have a mutual understanding among the people.

The President has instructed the Education Minister to take steps to teach all three languages in schools. When the people did not know the language they knew nothing about the other one's culture.