'Batticaloa leads in tobacco use'

Sivam Packiyanathan

Batticaloa leads the country in the use of tobacco and comes third in the use of alcohol according to a survey conducted by the WHO, said Youth Affairs and Skills Development Minister Dullas Alahapperuma.

He said so at a meeting to discuss school dropouts and school leavers in the Batticaloa district at Vincent Girls' High National School, Batticaloa recently.

Tertiary education will prepare the young generation for occupation. Every child is born with inborn talents. It is our duty to discover and develop these talents, the minister added.

The minister urged religious leaders, teachers, parents and politicians to take action in this regard.

"The mistake of Sri Lanka's education should be corrected," he added.

The minister emphasized that no student should suffer on account of his or her ethnicity or birth place.

National Human Resources Development Council (NHRDC) chairman Vijeya Wicramaretna presided over the function. The heads of NAITA, DTET, NIFNE, VTA and NYSC described the employment avenues available in their organizations.