(COLOMBO, LANKAPUVATH) –The Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa says the children should be encouraged to participate in sports from their school days.
He was addressing a function held after the opening of the new three storied building of the Kannangara Model College, in Anamaduwa.
The Ministry of Education has constructed this three storied building at a cost of Rs. 36 million. With the opening of this new building, Kannangara Model College, which has 2861 students and 92 teachers, has overcome many of its fundamental shortcomings.
Speaking at the event, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa said the hope of the government is to provide a good education for the country’s children.
“No matter how hard we try, only a limited number can enter a university. That is why technical colleges and vocational training institutes are needed. In particular, we created the Vocational Training Authority to empower our children. Also, it is not difficult for them to get a job when they have the strength to do so. In our era we started training young people and sending them to Korea and Japan. I remember when I first told the youth in our electorate to go to Korea, they said they did not work for me to go to work in Korea.”
“Then I sent a sister from the same village. After she received the first salary and sent the money home, the boys ran back to me and asked us to send them too. Until then, there was a strange attitude towards Korea. But today it is not. Today our youth are interested in going abroad and working. What do we expect from you? Study as hard as you can and go to university and become well educated children.”
The standard of education of a school is evaluated based on the results of that school. We know most schools do not have playgrounds.
I believe that children should be encouraged to get involved in sports from the time they are in school. Kids can’t just hang on to the book. It’s a great stress. Therefore, we believe that the knowledge you gain during this period will be useful not only from education but also from sports and vocational training.
All of you parents of these children and we hope that the children will learn well. We urge you, the children, to study hard and become good citizens. Good luck to you all! The Prime Minister said.
State Ministers Piyankara Jayaratne, Sanath Nishantha, Lohan Ratwatte, North Western Province Governor Raja Collure, Members of Parliament Ashoka Priyantha, Chinthaka Mayadunne, Ali Sabry Rahim, People’s Representatives of the area, Principal Wimal Wijeweera and the staff, and parents were present at the occasion.
