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| Sunday, 28 November 2004 |
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Junior Observer |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Children are peace makers Every human being yearns for peace, whether it's for the world, country, village, home or individual. All our efforts are aimed at peace - peace with one another, peace with oneself. Life without peace is hell on earth. For a moment, let us focus on nature. The plant that grows in a peaceful environment is assured full growth. The birds that sing peacefully today, away from all harm, will surely sing in the future too. So it is with humans. Peace today and peace for the future should be the destiny of man. However, looking back at historic rivalries between nations, we can see that discord between these families of men have contributed to much misery. In times of war, man lives an inhuman life. Today the mass media, specially television, has brought to our doorstep the result of man's failure to achieve peace in the world. Sri Lanka, the Dharmadeepa, the land of tolerance, bled with disharmony and disunity with the ethnic war. Suddenly we were on a downward trend economically, socially and even religiously. We have tasted the bitterness of a society without peace. You should not suffer the same fate. You can be the peace makers instead. How? It is not a difficult task. Respect others because no one is unimportant. Treat others exactly as you would like to be treated by them. Love those who curse you. Pray for those who abuse you. Respect humanity, but never be prejudiced by anyone's race, colour, caste or creed. They are walls which separate. Listening, understanding, accepting, appreciating, recognising, encouraging, sharing and caring, forgiving and forgetting are the components for a strong bridge which fill the big gap between nations, races and ethnic groups. Mother Lanka needs her children to be lights to the others and to the world. Your light will enlighten many others. Whatever the opinion of elders may be, if children can be peace makers, they can make the elders open their eyes and ears to peace. Peace is a basic necessity for the development of a country. All efforts of our nation, in spite of the cultural, ethnic and religious differences, should focus on peace for the country. Let us not keep on harping a discordant note; without cursing the darkness, let us light a candle. Children should take the initiative for this worthy cause. If humans want to live happy and contended lives, peace, whether it is for the individual, family or world, is essential. If children take bold steps in restoring peace in Sri Lanka, we can say; 'Blessed are the peace makers, for they shall own the land." Ajith Perera, Teacher of English, Anuruddha Central College, Lunuwila. _________________________________________________ School development gets a boost Sahashra Thaksala, a programme to accelerate the development of schools with private sector participation, was inaugurated by President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga recently. Several leading business people in the country have already extended their assistance towards this project launched by the Education Ministry. Under the first stage of the project, 25 underdeveloped national schools will be improved. The support of the private sector will be obtained to improve information technology, library, laboratory, gymnasium, health and sanitary facilities at these schools as well as other requirements specific to each school. Under the second stage of this project, facilities will be provided to other schools. Developing sports facilities at schools is a primary objective under this programme. Accordingly, schools fully equipped with gymnasiums, hostels and advisory services will be created on a district basis. Inaugurating the programme, President Kumaratunga said her main desire was to transform all 324 national schools and 397 Navodya schools into fully equipped educational establishments. _________________________________________________ Disabled Persons Day The International Disabled Persons Day is celebrated every year on December 3. This year too, programmes will be organised throughout the country on this day, but the differently abled people of our society will be forgotten once the celebrations are over. According to recent statistics, there are about 120,000 differently abled people in Sri Lanka. This is about 6.5 - 8 per cent of the country's total population. Some of them are born differently abled, but there are large numbers, especially young men in the prime of their lives, who have become handicapped as a result of the war which raged in the country for over 20 years. Whatever the case may be, it is not their fault that they are differently abled. As responsible citizens of this country, you too can do your bit towards easing their pain and suffering. This could be by helping a blind person cross the road, offering your seat in the bus to a differently abled person or performing small chores which they are unable to do for themselves. It may not be much, but it could make a huge difference in their lives. Spare a thought for the differently abled, not only on this day, but every day of the year. ________________________________________________ Yala reopened to the public The Yala National Park, which was closed to the public due to the drought and as a measure of safety for the animals, was reopened recently. As part of the opening ceremony, 200 varieties of plants were planted in the area by children from nearby schools. During the period the park had been closed, the Department of Wildlife Conservation had carried out many activities for the improvement of the park. Prominent among them were a newly constructed library and 10 large tanks providing water for the animals. The road network within the park was also improved along with many other improvements to the landscape. The Yala National Park is spread over an area of 241,370 acres. It is said to have 42 varieties of animals, 282 varieties of birds, 40 varieties of butterflies, 37 varieties of fish, 48 varieties of reptiles, 14 varieties of amphibians and 280 varieties of trees. |
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