Country marching forward with new vigour -Defence Secretary
Disna MUDALIGE
The future generations must be ready to exploit new employment
opportunities unveiled before them after the dawn of peace, ending
decades of turbulence, Defence and Urban Development Ministry Secretary
Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said.
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A student of the Defence Services College speaking to Defence
and Urban Development Ministry Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa
before performing a traditional dance at the Viru
Sisu Pradeepa ceremony at the Defence Services College
auditorium yesterday. Picture by Nissanka Wijeratne |
The Defence and Urban Development Ministry Secretary was addressing
the Viru Sisu Pradeepa ceremony.
It was organized for the seventh time by the National Defence Fund
under the Defence and Urban Development Ministry and held at the Defence
Services College yesterday.
He observed that a wide range of new employment opportunities have
been created with the massive development taking place in numerous
spheres. He noted that the country has been able to march forward with
new vigour after the defeat of terrorism.
He noted that the entire nation is grateful to the war heroes who
sacrificed their life and limb to save the country from ruthless
terrorism, adding that their sacrifices paved way to the rapid progress
in the country.
The ceremony was organized to grant financial and and gifts to the
children of 285 military and police personnel who passed the Grade Five
scholarship examination in 2010 and 2011.These military or Police
personnel had either sacrificed their lives or limbs during the battle
against the LTTE.
Service appreciation certificates were also awarded to the teachers
of the Defence Services College for recording the highest pass
percentage from the Western Province in Grade Five scholarship
examination last year.
The Defence and Urban Development Ministry Secretary noted that the
Defence Services College established in 2007 is equipped with modern
facilities which even superior schools in Colombo do not possess. The
college now has classes up to the grade 6.
He said another Defence Services College is being set up in
Kurunegala while Kotalawala Defence University facilitates higher
education.
He said these facilities were given to provide a brighter future for
the children of military and police personnel.
He advised the children to grow up as good citizens with leadership
qualities to lead the country towards prosperity in the future.
Education Monitoring MP Mohan Lal Grero, Defence and Urban
Development Ministry Additional Secretary S Hettiarachchi, Chief of
Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Roshan Gunathilake, Army Commander Lt
Gen Jagath Jayasuriya, IGP N K Illangakoon and distinguished guests
participated. |
