The President mentioned this while attending the ceremony of handing over the first phase of the newly constructed three-storied building to the students at the Buddhist Girls’ National School, Girmetiya, Silapam, today (14) afternoon.
The President said that the government is allocating funds for education even in the difficult economic environment and emphasized that education is the strength of the country.
President Ranil Wickramasinghe was given a special welcome by the girls when he visited the Krimetiya Buddhist Girls National School this afternoon.
After going to the Buddhist Vihara located in the school premises and offering prayers, the President removed the name board and handed over the new building to the students.
The President visited the new classrooms and had a friendly conversation with the students.
G.P.D. Prizes were also given by the President to the college students who excelled in the high standard examination and a memento was also given to President Ranil Wickramasinghe.
450 million has been spent on the initial phase of the new building. This fund is provided by the government and parents.
The President also mentioned that in accordance with the request made by the students to complete the construction work of this building, the construction work of the building will be completed in two phases.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe pointed out that it is the government’s responsibility to develop the country and emphasized that this is not the time to pass the time by raising slogans.
The President mentioned that a new path should be taken to develop the country and everyone should join hands with the program presented by the government to bring about the necessary economic change and bring rapid development in the country.
The President also indicated that the government plans to revive the Matabai Economic Zone and develop the area into a tourism, economic and IT city.
President Ranil Wickramasinghe who commented here said,
Despite the difficult economic situation, the government is committed to providing modern education to the children of the country. There is no point in talking about past education systems now. Looking to the future, this country should develop the best education system in South Asia. The strength of our country is education. Our country has always had the best education system. In the past, we provided maximum allocations for education.
I took charge of a broken country. Political parties were divided then. So, a group of us came together to form the government and take the country’s economy forward. Now we have to think about the future. Now we are gradually solving the economic problems and making progress.
According to the report released by the International Monetary Fund yesterday, we have successfully received the money for the next tranche. Also, a group of countries that have officially given loans to Sri Lanka will meet next week. After that meeting, we can get rid of the deadlock. I am proud to have reached this stage within two years.
So we cannot be satisfied. We must go ahead with the agreement with the International Monetary Fund. Unemployment should be reduced to 5% in two years and incomes should also increase. A program has been proposed for the same. The country can be developed only if that program is carried forward. We need to think anew. Efforts are being made to introduce new technology in education.
It is the responsibility of the government to develop the country. Now is no time to spend time raising slogans. We cannot go back to that age.
We have decided to revive the Matabai Economic Zone. Also, a thousand acres of land has been acquired for starting a trade zone and investment zone in Pingriya area. Also, it is planned to start a tourist zone in Iranavila. Then tourism economy and market economy will develop. An IT City is expected to be developed at Matabai to provide opportunities to those who have acquired IT education.
Also, under the Agricultural Modernization Program, modern agriculture will be introduced in the villages and the youth will be given the necessary training. Similarly, the development of the fisheries sector should be focused on building a new economy in the region. In 1977 we gave Gampaha a new economy. Now we are looking forward to implement a similar project in this region as well. So there will be great development in the area from Silapam to Kuliapitiya.
To develop the country, we have to take a new path. We have submitted the Economic Restructuring Bill with the aim of bringing rapid development in the country through economic transformation. So everyone should support it regardless of politics. Conventional politics cannot be done at this time. Irrespective of the political party, everyone should work together to implement these policies for the future of the children of this country.
Education Minister Kalanidhi Sushil Premajayantha,
I assured the principal of this school that the Cabinet approval for getting the laboratory for technical subjects will be received within the next week. There is a question about how to get technical labs. However, the practical exams for the same can be conducted at Nathandiya Dhammisara Vidyalaya. We have also arranged to appoint teachers for it within the next two weeks. We are looking to fill the teacher vacancies of the entire province.
The school started with 300 students and now has 3000 students. The present President who founded the Colleges of Education and the National Institute of Education, has done immense service for the education of the country during his tenure as the Minister of Education. Under the new education system, we hope to provide the students with the necessary knowledge for their future without declaring any student as not having passed the normal standard.
Providing digital screens as opposed to blackboards does not constitute a modern education system. We have a program beyond that. Let’s empower education with artificial intelligence and information technology. We have already started training the Assyrians for that. These works have also been started in national schools and international schools. A separate university for education will also be started. So education can be internationalized.
Ashoka Priyantha, Minister of State for Home Affairs,
I am grateful to Balika National College, the only Buddhist school in Puttalam, for constructing a building that was lacking. I have been able to help this school as a representative of the people.
When the country faced a crisis, President Ranil Wickremesinghe did not run away from it. He has instilled hope among the pessimistic people. We thank the President on behalf of the people of Puttalam for that.
The decisions made by President Ranil Wickramasinghe during his tenure as the Minister of Education have become a positive factor in strengthening the country’s education even today. Therefore, there is an expectation among the people that this project started by the present government should be continued. Abandoning the program will lead to crisis again.
In this event, the members of the Maha Sangha, North West Province Governor Naseer Ahmed, Wennappuwa United National Party organizer Budhika Sesadpura, Education Ministry Secretary J. M. Thilaka Jayasundara, Silapam Education Zone Education Director Prasad Ratnayake, North West Province Education Secretary Nayanavasa Kariyam, School Principal Dulika Priyadarshani and others were present. Education officials, government officials, school students, parents and many others were also present.
