National Anthem should be honoured

Every Sri Lankan should respect and honour the National Anthem, and inculcate patriotism and dedicate themselves for the development of this country, said Minister of Mass Media and Information, Keheliya Rambukwella addressing a function held at A Ratnayake Maha Vidyalaya in Walala, Kandy Monday, in connection with distribution of text books and herbal saplings to 1000 students.

The Minister said that although there were many nationalities in India, the National Anthem of that country was respected devoid of ethnic or other differences.

He said that National consciousness created by Indian leaders such as Gandhi and Nehru, had entrenched in the hearts of the people of that country. The Minister said that teachers too had a responsible role to play in inculcating patriotic and national consciousness which had eroded in our society to our schoolchildren and in building a patriotic society. The Minister pointed out that society today, was suffering from the detrimental effects of removing subjects such as history which infused patriotism from our educational curriculum.

Minister Rambukwella said the Government was implementing well planned programs to develop the liberated motherland. He pointed out that developing physical resources alone could not develop the country and development of the human resources with a futuristic vision to establish a disciplined society was essential.

He said that it had been declared 2011 as Education Year for Kundasale, covering the Kundasale Educational Region, while five educational specialists have been appointed to oversee the educational activities in the region, adding that 2 schools would be upgraded to National level.

Indigenous Medicine Minister Pandu Bandaranayake, Central Provincial Council Members Sunil Ameratunge and Linton Wijesinghe and Jaya Keheliya Foundation Chairperson Chamitri Rambukwella participated at this function.