Time has come to nurture children with religious thoughts

Time has come for all who are responsible to join in the task of nurturing the minds of children with religious thoughts whilst barren lands in the country are being converted into fertile lands, and it would provide greater assistance to brighten the future of the country Parliamentary Affairs Secretary to President Kumarasiri Hettige said.

The Mahinda Chintana has launched a programme with a proper vision to build a disciplined and law-abiding society and one item of it is to strengthen the dhamma schools of all religions, Hettige said.

He expressed these views participating as chief guest at a function organized under Sadaham Arunella programme held at BMICH to donate Rs. 270.9 million among 2,709 Buddhist, Christian, Hindu and Islamic Dhamma schools in the Western Province.

This function was held under the patronage of Western Province Governor Alavi Maulana and Western Province Chief Minister Prasanna Ranatunga.

Hettige said today the country is faced up with the challenge of building a disciplined and ethical society. Today Media brings news regarding unpleasant and vicious incidents than ever before. During the period of the 30 year war newspaper carried headlines on killings of thousands of people, woes of parents who lost their children due to the attacks of terrorists, and the destruction of public property.

"Newspapers had allocated a number of pages to report such incidents. Electronic media also allocated much time to report these incidents. The sorrowful wail heard from door to door, from village to village, still reverberates in our hearts.

"Now we are living in a country which is free of terrorism. However, due to the incidents of crime a feeling of shock is instilled in our minds.

"So we have had to deeply think of our society. Some people have lost human qualities. Terrorism turned our society upside down. There was a time when a price was decided for life. We were left with a society of ruthless people. Now we wanted to add value to life. Compassion and mercy should be inculcated in the minds of people. The main option is left with us to achieve that is to nurture our children spiritually. For that, not only children but even the adults should be led towards a life which is guided by religion.

"Dhamma schools render a priceless service in this regard. All communities who advocate Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism or Islam should make it a point to provide Dhamma school education to their children. The country is marching forward on the path of development with a rapid momentum. Barren lands are being converted into fertile lands. Minds of people should be filled with religious thoughts in parallel to that process. Then we can create a world of people devoid of inhuman qualities. Children should be properly guided. It is a duty and responsibility of both parents and teachers.

"We may argue with one another on various topics. But we have to be united to work for the uplift of our children. Then only we can make the world of children beautiful. The President is committed himself in achieving this objective. We have to shed differences to view the world of children. They may live in the North, South or they belong to any race but they are the children of our nation. The President is a leader who has a good vision with a proper knowledge. In the past certain leaders did not have a proper vision. As a result we were dragged into a deep precipice. Politicians should act with both knowledge and a vision.

Chief Minister Prasanna Ranatunga has set an example to many provincial councils through Sadaham Arunella. It pays much concern on the world of children.

The vision of our state leader has been strengthened through this, and this kind of programmes incessantly receive the blessings of the President, Hettige said.

Head of Vidyodaya Privena Ven Rajkeeya Panditha Balangoda Sobitha Thera Ven. Rajeekya Panditha Kobbewela Medhankara Tehra advisor to the President Ven. Medagamuwe Vijaya Maiththree Thera religious dignitaries and the chief Secretary of the Western Provincial Council Jayanthi Wijetunga also spoke.

A large gathering including Maha Sangha the members and ministers of the Western Provincial Council, and District and Divisional Secretaries participated.