'Children need more attention'

Sanjeevi JAYASURIYA

The country needs to pay more attention to children to make them development inclusive. The ongoing development activities to build roads, ports, harbours and providing electricity and banking facilities will enable rapid progress. All these measures are taken to ensure a brighter future for the children in the long run, Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal said.

The facilities provided should be made use of better the outlook and hence it is important for the children to become the new strength in the country, he said at the second successful LOLC Micro Credit Ltd Isuru Diriya Sisu Upahara Scholarship awards ceremony held in Colombo yesterday.

The LOLC Micro Credit scholarships were awarded for 230 students of micro credit customers in its entire network who excelled at the Year Five Scholarship Examination this year.

"It is extremely necessary to make proper use of resources in a sustainable manner. The 230 scholarship holders have carved a clear path in moving forward and we will provide all the support for them to become proactive partners in the country's development agenda," he said.

"Sri Lanka is at a transformational stage and the development activities taking place at present will undoubtedly help the country to elevate its current status. We envisage rapid development to alleviate poverty and are hopeful of taking off the word under-privileged from the Sri Lankan vocabulary shortly, he said.

The changed Sri Lanka will present a new future for today's children. The LOLC Micro Credit initiative will contribute immensely in shaping the future generation.

The Governor requested the students to ensure successful continuation in the education sphere and assured that a conducive environment will be created and sustained to enable positive results facilitating the country's development drive.