'Time is ripe to inspire good thoughts in people'

A society that has become inferior in values and qualities is of no use, even if there is a great material development. The time is ripe for all responsible people to flock together to initiate an operation to inspire good thoughts within people, Secretary to the President on Parliamentary Affairs, Kumarasiri Hettige said.

Hettige stated so, in taking part as chief guest, in the investiture ceremony of prefects at Yashodhara Maha Vidyalya, Battaramulla, Malabe.

Secretary to the President on Parliamentary Affairs Kumarasiri Hettige who was the chief guest at the prefects’ investiture ceremony of Yasodhara Maha Vidyalya, Battaramulla, Malabe being welcomed on arrival.

He said the behaviour of certain adults has become an obstacle for the existence of the society and the rate of diminishing the sense of shame, has been augmented.

He said, "It is not easy to emerge, a leader in whatever the stratum of the society. Retaining the leadership that was acquired, too, is not that simple. Becoming a prefect in a school sets a fine milieu, in the event of turning in to a leader in future. When one becomes a leader, several duties and responsibilities are assigned to him. One, who avoids the duties and responsibilities, is not appropriate to be a leader. The children, today, have got many facilities for the education. So, problems too, have come up.

"They have advanced in science and technology. That has made the child isolated. Such knowledge or academic achievement never paves the way for a flourishing living condition. The parents and the teachers should pay their strict attention on children. The prospective leaders should read biographies of reputed personalities. The poverty should never be an obstacle for the education. If the Buddhism is kept close to life, everyone can arrive at the success.

"Abraham Lincoln, the reputed President of the United States, was born in a hut and yet he achieved his success. He did his studies under an electricity lamp post. That painful living background, bestowed him with strength to rise to a height which enabled him to provide the leadership to America. It is because of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, we were able to rescue our motherland when we were to be deprived of its possession.

No other leader of our country has encountered challenges as he did. We can derive all the leadership qualities from his character. That character well visualizes the love towards the country and the children. That is the reason why we love him.

We should not be worried over the future of the children. But the attention must be paid on the dangerous and indisciplined activities in the society. Some try to put the blame on children.

That is wrong. Academic knowledge and intelligence alone are not qualifications to be a good man. Good thoughts, too, should be mingled with them.

Those thoughts are hostile to most of them today. Sense of shame has departed. So, cruel thoughts are created in their minds. No discipline, In this context, a good society cannot be expected irrespective of whatever the material development that takes place," he said.

"The time has arrived, for all responsible people to flock together so as to initiat an operation to inspire good thoughts within the people. We find groups of people, with distorted opinion in whatever the society. It is very dangerous.

Their feelings have not been tamed. That can be done only through the development of mind.

For that, not only the children, but also the adults should be directed towards the religion and its teachings. The examples of the elders create a great effect on children.

The future leaders, that the country need," will emerge from such a backdrop. Our children may have strength and the courage to be the gems of Mother Lanka.".

Dr. Ven. Eheliyagoda Gunarathna Thera Director of Education, Kaduwela Division Thanuja Rangodage, Principal Neal Krishantha Ekanayake and several others also spoke.

Sisira Gunarathna, the principal of Malable Model (Boys) school Vishaka Weerasinghe, the principal of Kothalawala Maha Vdyalaya and a large gathering of teachers, parents and students were present.