‘World obliged to promote communal harmony’ - President Mahinda Rajapaksa

Chaminda PERERA

‘All Sri Lankans and members of the world community have a responsibility to protect and promote amity and close cooperation among communities rather than sow seeds of hatred among communities, which would lead to the reemergence of terrorism, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said.

He said the younger generation is entrusted with the responsibility of protecting and promoting all that has been built up.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa presents a prize to a student at the 162nd annual prize giving of Royal College, Colombo. Principal Upali Gunasekera is looking on. Picture by Sudath Malaweera

The President was speaking at the 162nd prize giving of Royal College, Colombo yesterday. Students of the College who performed exceptionally well in their studies during the year 2009 - 2010 were recognized and conferred prizes.

President Rajapaksa added that the offspring of Royal College, Colombo are blessed with an opportunity of learning in a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural environment.

He said that the history of Sri Lanka provides ample instances of how human rights were protected in the country. “There is no better place than the history of Sri Lanka which offers a number of lessons on how human rights are protected”, he explained.

President Rajapaksa said that King Dutugemunu had decreed to the countrymen to pay due respect to the burial grounds where King Elara was cremated.

The speech: ‘Earlier I have participated in three prize giving ceremonies of your college. This is the fourth occasion. What I have noticed on all these four occasions is that Royal College has properly identified the needs of the country and implemented various programmes to impart the necessary knowledge to its students.

“Your college has emerged among the 30 best colleges in computer technology in the world. There is an allegation that the gap between children and parents is widened with the introduction of the computer. But today parents are able to assess the progress of their children at the school, daily from home through the computer. That is the way Royalists have enhanced the harmony between the school and home through the computer.

“However I notice that Royalists have not become mere slaves of the computer. They have receded from the misconception that the future of the entire country depends on the computer. Children of this country should be brought up in a way that suits our country. Whether you are in the computer era, or you have orbited the space you cannot afford to neglect the needs of your country. This is the era to build our country for the sake of you all, the younger generation. You have a significant duty to perform in the process of the development of this country. You have to contribute your mite in a pragmatic way and not as mere observers.

“Children of this country had been the strength for us in the process of the highest humane operation in the world, the recent war. They encouraged our heroes by collecting bottles of drinking water and despatching them to the North. Such contributions, you made to redeem this country could be used similarly now to build the country as well. Building a country is also a great challenge. For that great task we need strong and courageous people. We need people who love their country.

“You must have the strong conviction that you have the qualities of great people who worked for the country inherent in your blood. Please read the biographies of the products of your college. Great people like Anagarika Dharmapala, Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan are but a few of them who were committed to serve the country.

“It is with the intention of developing the country through one million housing economic units that we initiated the ‘Divi Neguma’. You all can participate in that endeavour. Royal College has come second in the competition of cultivating school gardens. Do not forget that Royalists from yore, are experienced farmers.

“Please remember songs disgracing the country could help those who want to divide the motherland. Your way of thinking has a tremendous impact upon the country. Similarly what you write or what you speak also affects the country. Today your country is inconvenienced a lot, due to false rumours. Only you can stop such rumours.

“Perhaps you may come across difficulties. Please bear them up and don’t blame the country. You must have patience for the sake of the country.

“Children from all the four corners of the country, are found here. It is a privilege to get such a rare opportunity of learning to respect other religions from a tender age. It makes it easy for you to co-exist with the rest of the people irrespective of differences, such as, race, religion or any other social standing.

“We have a lot of examples to follow in respecting others and upholding human rights. King Dutugemunu decreed that no one should make a noise, wear shoes or hats when passing the grave of King Elara.

“The royal decree was strictly followed by our chieftains even at the moment of retreating in the course of the revolution of 1818. When the English army was advancing they avoided the grave of King Elara.

“You are quite aware of what is found underneath the great walls, gigantic pyramids and other historic monuments of the world. It is the blood and sweat of millions of slaves, bones and skeletons of men. Also you know what is enshrined in the Ruwanweli Dagoba which is one of the most dignified monuments of our nation.

“King Dutugemunu made payments for the labour spent on building Ruwanmeliseya. He made a payment even to a Buddhist priest who contributed by laying a brick through devotion. The great King donated a Dagoba to the priest in lieu of wages. We have an exemplary history of humane qualities. Such qualities must be practised by each and every persons in this country. Solidarity and harmony with the rest of the nations are your future. It is the future of this country as well.

I wish a bright and prosperous future to all of you.”

Members of the academic staff of the College who showed more commitment to uplift the educational standards of the College were also recognized through the presentation of special awards on this occasion. President Mahinda Rajapaksa presented special awards to teachers who had not taken a day’s leave during the year 2009 - 2010.

Ministers Bandula Gunawardena, Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, Rauff Hakeem and Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga also participated.