President tells younger generation:

Change your attitude first

by Ananda KANNANGARA

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday called upon the younger generation to work hard with the objective of developing their motherland, which will enable all citizens to live in peace and harmony under one flag.

The President made these remarks at the awards ceremony of the ‘Mother Sri Lanka’ schools program held at “Temple Trees” yesterday. Over 3,500 children selected as finalists from 41 schools received their certificates and awards at yesterday’s event.

Director, Strategy and Perceptions Management Unit of the Presidential Secretariat and founder of Mother Sri Lanka, Janaki Kuruppu was also present. Over three million schoolchildren had participated in the ‘Mother Sri Lanka’ program during the past 12 months.

President Rajapaksa highlighted the importance of conducting this kind of program, since they could help educate the younger generation on becoming responsible citizens and living with all ethnic groups in harmony.

“If we change our attitudes first, we could easily change the country and also create a better society,” he said. He urged the younger generation to first change their attitudes and then work for the country.

President Rajapaksa advised the younger generation to focus their love and kindness towards the country as they love themselves. Speaking on the importance of having a better education, the President said age was not a barrier to carry out educational activities and said he too became a lawyer, after becoming a Parliamentarian. “Our country has enough resources and opportunities for children to obtain a good education.

Therefore our children must get the maximum benefit from them and help the country after receiving education.

“It is pathetic that many Sri Lankan intellectuals who had their entire free education here, are serving foreign countries”. He requested the children to do a better service for their motherland after their education.

He said children in the country, especially in the North will never forget the 30-year era during which they faced difficulties to carry out their educational activities.

Fortunately that dark era is over now and all peace-loving citizens in the country were able to celebrate the end of that dark era.”

Addressing the audience in Tamil, President Rajapaksa said that all citizens must live in peace and harmony irrespective of their ethnicity. He said he was keen to learn to speak Tamil better to address the Tamil community in their mother tongue.