Pakistani schoolgirl, an example to all - Dullas
Malala Yousufzai, the 14-year-old Pakistani school girl who was
targeted and nearly killed by the Taliban terrorists for bravely
standing up for the rights of all young girls to an education, is an
example for all young girls in Sri Lanka as well, Dullas Alahapperuma,
the Minister of Youth Affairs and Skills Development said. He said so
addressing the students of the Presbyterian Girls National School in
Dehiwela on the occasion of their annual prize giving.
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Malala
Yousafzai |
The minister went on to say that Malala who is currently being
treated in England had to face the wrath of the Taliban for bravely
standing up for the rights of women to an education at a time when
Taliban had issued statements to the contrary.
He said the Taliban has stated that women should be confined to the
house to look after children and to do other household chores instead of
having an education. Comparing this to the conflict which ravaged Sri
Lanka not so long ago, the minister said there was a time when LTTE
terrorists used school boys and girls for their war effort.
He recalled an incident where the LTTE terrorists had cut the finger
of a girl from Mullaitivu after she sought permission to sit for an
exam.
However, the minister pointed out that, the world's attention was not
drawn to the fate of the girl from Mullaitivu in the same manner as the
case of Malala. He said this was due to the practice of certain
countries in identifying armed combatants who go against them as
terrorists and others as mere fighters.
Speaking on the school, Minister Alahapperuma said Presbyterian, as
an educational institution, has always tried to maintain harmony among
all irrespective of differences.
Principal of the School S.K.Leelarathna also spoke.
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