175 years of right ROYAL glory
President Mahinda Rajapaksa with Education Minister Bandula
Gunawardana, President’s Secretary Lalith Weeratunga and other
officials enter the venue. |
One of Sri Lanka's oldest and leading educational institutes - Royal
College, Colombo marks its 175th anniversary this year and the main
celebrations took place under the patronage of President Mahinda
Rajapaksa on Thursday.
Founded way back in 1835 as the Colombo Academy, Royal College has
produced many distinguish personalities in various fields. Awarded as
one of the Best Innovative Schools of the World, Royal College has
indeed produced great personalities not only to the country but to the
world.
President Rajapaksa was accorded a Guard of Honour by the college
cadet platoon on arrival at the venue. The cancellation of the first day
cover and a new postage stamp also took place as a part of the program
to celebrate the anniversary.
Addressing the special general assembly of Royal College, the
President said the Royalists should be proud of their Alma Mater for
producing outstanding personnel who brought international reputation to
the country in their respective fields.
"Outstanding Royalists who showed numerous achievements in their
respective fields, have spent their student life in a meaningful way,"
he said.
The President stressed that the students of the Royal College have
unparallel opportunities to pursue many fields ranging from Information
and Communication Technology to agriculture.
"Learning is a cumbersome process and all learned people laboured
through many hardships to gain knowledge", he added.
He said that Royal College, Colombo as the first State school in the
country should guide the nation. President Rajapaksa said that Royal
College proved itself that it is capable of guiding the nation during
the recent past. The President also commended the achievements made by
the college in the sphere of IT sector.
The President added that the parents of Royal College students can
check the arrival and departure time of their children to and from the
school through the Internet.
He opined that the ICT should be utilised to propagate the country's
centuries old heritage to the world too. "We can disseminate information
of our indegenous medical system, local industry, Buddhism and the
country's rich history to the world through the ICT, he added.
Traditional welcome to President Rajapaksa |
A guard of honour accorded to President Rajapaksa |
President Rajapaksa in conversation with Organising
Committee Chairman, Ajith Peiris and Opposition Leader Ranil
Wickremesinghe. |
A drill display by students |
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