'A leader should possess a vision for the country'

One should possess a broad vision of the country, nation and the religion to be an excellent leader and that the schools can provide guidance to create such leaders, Presidential Secretary on parliamentary Affairs Kumarasiri Hettige said.

Hettige stated so as Chief Guest at a function held on February 26 in the new auditorium of the President's Girls' College, Galle to mark the taking of oath and induction ceremony of the new prefects for 2013.

He said the action of certain leaders who represent various parties had contributed to confuse the society rather than leading it on a good path. He stated that such a setting is not for the betterment of the country.

Hettige said: "It is not easy to be a leader at any level of the society. For that, the qualities of leadership should be developed from the inception. The schools provide a great back up to create future leaders. The prefects who aspire to be future leaders should get examples only from an accurate and successful leadership.

"Many examples can be derived from the leader of our country, President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The President took over the country in an extremely difficult situation. The way he provided the leadership to rescue the country when the country was in the threshold of separation was excellent. We should recall how he displayed the qualities that a leader should possess. He was unwavering in his stance enduring the pressure exerted from all directions until the achievement of the final objective.

"Those days the terrorists informed the President and members of his family that they will have to pay with their lives unless the military operations are stopped. The President did not waver. That is the exact leadership. That is why we are able to live in a free country today.

"The children should be nurtured to develop qualities and knowledge if the future is to be victorious. That is why the President has paid his special attention towards the children. The parents, teachers and children should strive to make the President's views a reality. It is about the success of the lives of the children. The prospective leaders should be pragmatic. A leader should possess a personality to solve the problems that come up. The one who only possesses a hammer would identify any problem as a nail. There are leaders in various places who comprehend each and every issue as a nail and they hammer them.

Certain leaders mess up certain issues. Their own leaders are forgotten after they become leaders. We are in such a society.

"Leadership cannot be maintained with qualities such as arrogance or hypocrisy. Those are qualities that do not suit leadership. Taking care of event the trivial thing is a leadership quality.

The President provided political leadership to defeat terrorism by looking into each and every shortcoming in a regular manner.

I recall the fable by the illustrious philosopher Confucius. There was a war in a country.

The commander wanted to go to the battlefront immediately. A nail in one horseshoe of his horse was losse.

Therefore the Commander could not go to the battlefront at the right time. Eventually the war was lost and the country collapsed.

"These are good examples for our lives. Whatever the leadership position we may hold, wherever it may be that we are leaders, our love for the country should not be reduced. One should be nurtured with patriotism. Girls' schools can illuminate the country a lot. We all must protect school children. It is the responsibility and the duty of the teachers and parents to take them to a good path.

"The services rendered by principals and teachers on behalf of the children amidst many difficulties should be commended. Our hope is to build a humane society of peace and harmony. The teachings of Buddhism are very helpful in that regard. The children brought up in line with religious teachings will never let the country down.

Hettige said the future leaders of the country should be created from those who were brought up in such a background.

Principal H. A. S. Gunathilaka, said our target is to produce rich woman leaders to the society. "Our school has made many achievements. An opportunity has provided to the girls to have real life experiences by creating leadership roles. We are confident that a group of good women leaders will be created in the future," he said.

Education Divisional Director Tilak Manoj Padmalal also spoke. Akmeemana Divisional Secretary Damayanthi Paranagama, government servants, principals and parents attended the function.