Science fuels modern world - Minister Basil

Katugastota Group Corr

The world today is undergoing a startling transformation due to new technological development. When it took nearly 100 years or so to make a major scientific or technological discovery in the past, such discovers are made within a matter of 100 days or so nowadays, said Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa.

The minister was addressing a meeting after opening a new auditorium costing Rs 20 million built at the Galagedara Sujatha Vidyalaya recently.

The minister said “a major accomplishment which needed the labour of 100 people in the past can now be completed with 10 people.

“We should understand that things have been made easy due to new technology”.

He said although a country subjected to a 30 year crisis should lag behind in development compared to other countries, Sri Lanka did not suffer such setbacks thanks to the Mahinda Chinthana which armed the child population with technological knowledge. Minister Rajapaksa said developed countries had a greater demand for expatiate workers than Middle East countries. A person with technological knowledge can earn a far better salary abroad than the total salary earned by 10 home maids, he said.

International Monetary Corporation Senior Minister and Finance and Planning Deputy Minister Dr Sarath Amunugama said they were happy to see Minister Basil Rajapaksa visiting Thumpane to witness the rapid development in the area. He said teachers in the area were a dedicated lot of public servants who assisted students in their studies free of charge even after school hours.

Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Minister Dilan Perera, Economic Development Deputy Minister Muthu Sivalingam and Parliamentarian Dilum Amunugama were also present.