|
|
 |
 |
| Sunday, 6 June 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Politics | Today's Top Story |  |
| News Business Features
|
Shelve petty differences - President by Deepal Warnakulasuriya reporting from Deeghavapi President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga invited all the communities in the country to join for a democratic track to win their rights, forgetting the petty differences like race, language, religion and culture. She pointed out that that race, religion, language or the culture could not appreciate without a country and the priority should be given to protect the motherland by all. At the same time, the President appreciated the Eastern Province Muslim community who selected the democratic Parliament system to win their rights in the path of their beloved leader and former Minister M. H. M. Ashraff. President Kumaratunga made these observations at the ceremonial opening of the Ashraff Memorial Hall at the Deeghavapi Rajamaha Vihara in Ampara last Friday. The President declared open the Ashraff Memorial Hall that was constructed at a cost of Rs. 7 Million by Housing, Construction, Industry, Eastern Province Education and Irrigation Development Minister Ferial Ashraff realizing a dream of her late husband and former Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Minister. She invited all to unite in the name of Sri Lankans and not under any individual community. She stressed the necessity to work towards the development and the well-being of the country instead of promoting divisions within the communities. She also pointed out that there were few power hungry politicians in past who used race, and religion to divide the communities and to topple the regimes. Even the Liberation of Tigers Tamil Ealam (LTTE) who had been in war for almost two decades finally decided that the way out of this ethnic conflict is through negotiations," the President highlighted. Being the only President in twenty years to visit the Deeghavapi, she said the Deeghavapi had long being neglected by everyone until late Minister M. H. M. Ashraff highlighted the importance of development to all parts of the country, specially the Deeghavapi. "Although the late Minister was a Muslim, he was dedicated to serve the Deeghavapi people where majority were Sinhala Buddhists. A few so-called Sinhala Buddhists were attacking him on his development projects but I was personally aware that his plans were targetted at the development of the country and not for a specific community during his term of office," she added. The President who cut the first sod of soil to commence the renovation tasks of the Deeghavapi Dagoba also pledged to construct a pilgrim's rest within the temple premises. She also pledged the Eastern Province people to 100 houses for the needy and poor in the area to mark service rendered by late minister Ashraff to the Province. She also donated three gold plated Budhha statues from Thailand under the 'Punnya Grama' project and Chief Incumbent of the Rajamaviharaya Ven. Nannaburawe Buddharakkitha Thera received the three statues. Minister of Housing, Construction, Industry, Eastern Province Education and Irrigation Development Ferial Ashraff and Deputy Minister of Cultural Affairs and National Heritage Samantha Vidyarathne also spoke at the function. Minister of Infrastructure Development in the Eastern Province A. L. M. Athaullah, Deputy Ministers Chandrasiri Gajadheera and Cegu Izadeen and several others also participated. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
