Of books and men...:

President cautions officials

By Shanika SRIYANANDA

When he has breathing space amidst his busy schedule, he finds the time to mingle with schoolchildren who visit his home as a part of educational tours to Colombo. He enjoys talking to them... watching their mischievous behaviour their curiosity to learn about the much-guarded 'historical house' in the country... to listen to their problems and to simply share a joyful moment with them. The come from far away places of the country.

History text

Last Thursday, President Mahinda Rajapaksa was surprised when one schoolgirl broke through the crowd and came right up to him and asked him "Dear President where is the Golden Garden inside Temple Trees?"."Duwe, from where did you learn that it is here"? the President asked the student, who then showed him her grade eight history text where a reference had been made to this effect.

When he inquired from the teachers, they too were clueless about its whereabouts. President Rajapaksa then asked the children whether they liked to study History and Geography.

They replied by saying 'yes' but explained to the President that they had lost interest in the two subjects because it was not Presented in an interesting manner. At the discussion, students also said they had learned that countries that depend on agriculture had poor economies and paddy cultivation was dying the farmers were getting a poor income and were facing difficulties in selling their products.

"We have learned that farmers have no social status and they are poor", they said.

Expressing utter shock dismay that President explained to them the benefit of being farmers and said that in other countries the farmers were the richest segment of society and were the people who earned respect.President Rajapaksa then called an urgent meeting of relevant officials of the Education Ministry to Temple Trees the next day.

Golden Temple

He questioned officials about the existence of a the Golden Temple but officials who are on the panel to write textbooks only looked at each other and gave no answer. As there was no answer, the smiling president started questioning the officials on topics relevant to Grades 6 to nine. Most of them could not give reasonable replies.

The Grade Nine Geography textbook which was written in 2010 does not contain any thing about Southern development. "The Government had started development projects in the South some years back and there is nothing about the Hambantota Port, the airport, the highway and about other development projects in the country. “Why", he quarried.

The President threw another question related to Sinhala literature. But they remained silent. "I am not an educationalist and consultative boards are appointed to look into these facts.

If members of these boards are unaware of what they write, how can they pass true facts to children. I hope you will be more responsible in your work in future to give your best to children.

You need to be very careful when writing for children as it needs to be of quality with correct facts and figures and the lessons need to be interesting to children to read.

Correct facts

These lessons cannot be news reports. If you don't give correct facts to children it will affect the country's future", he cautioned officials. Before they left, officials requested the President to give them textsbooks that President Rajapaksa referred to.

Before he 'summoned' officials, he updated himself about the Grade 6-10, which were given to him by schoolchildren."Eai textbooks nedda amathyanshye (Why don't you have these textbooks in the Ministry)", he asked officials.

The major event that the President participated in was the opening of the first Expressway - the Southern Expressway - the ‘Gateway to Wonder’."Sri Lanka would open a world of opportunities in the tranquillity of peace.

The best solution to separatism and ethnic division is to have closer links among people through an efficient road network", he said addressing the public at a function held in Karandeniya after opening the Expressway.

Expressway network

“Sri Lanka has turned a new leaf in its road to development, a turn towards the modernisation of its road network in line with best global practices. The Government plans to link all areas through an Expressway network making it a revolution in road development.

Roads reducing travel time between areas could act as a catalyst for closer links between communities, people and this would spur unity and prevent any division within the country".

"Soon there would be an Expressway linking Jaffna to Colombo via the A-9 and another from Colombo to Kandy. The Katunayake to Colombo Expressway would be vested with the public at the end of 2012.

The time when the country’s youth were dreaming about such facilities in developed countries is over and all Sri Lanka would also have facilities equal to developed nations, in the near future.

I have no doubt that this Expressway would show the path prosperity to future generations”.Japan’s Envoy on Peace Building, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Yasushi Akashi, who attended the opening of the Expressway and also met the President had expressed Japan’s appreciation and satisfaction about the rapid progress achieved by Sri Lanka during a very short period after the defeat of terrorism.

Japanes government

At the meeting President Rajapaksa expressed appreciation for the assistance rendered to Sri Lanka and thanked the Japanese government for the role played in providing continued assistance. President Rajapaksa gave a detailed description of Sri Lanka’s future development path to the Japanese envoy, also explained the action the government planned to take on the report submitted by the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission.

However, he said a durable solution to post-conflict issues should be consistent with the traditions and culture of the land and said Sri Lanka needs its own unique solution to its longstanding problem, for it to be sustainable and durable.Akashi said he was yet to study the LLRC report and hoped it would be a comprehensive and a balanced one which would recommend remedies to ensure that there will be no recurrence of the tragic experiences of the past.

He said the world including Japan was eagerly awaiting the President’s response to the LLRC report.In the middle of this week a book containing the speeches made by the President titled "Mahinda Rajapaksa Janadhipathidun Eda Parlimenthuwedi Negu Handa" ("Voice of President Mahinda Rajapaksa in Parliament")was launched at Temple Trees.

The book contains speeches made by the President in Parliament from his maiden appearance in Parliament in 1970 as the youngest MP in the House, to 2005.

Presented copies

President Mahinda Rajapaksa presented copies of the book to the Maha Sangha and religious dignitaries of the Christian, Hindu and Muslim clergy.

The President also handed over several copies of the book to three students who had got best results at their grade five scholarships examination and to students who got best results at the Ordinary Level and Advanced Level examinations. Copies were also handed over to the debating teams of Colombo Nalanda College, Thurstan College and Richmond College, Galle.Meanwhile, President Rajapaksa inviting the diaspora to assist the country's development process said the diaspora could contribute in a significant manner towards, the development of the North.“We have launched several programs to develop the North and help our people there.

There is a need to provide entertainment for the people of the North and more facilities for sports and recreation in addition to building more hotels. Both the private sector and the Diaspora could play an active role in the North,” the President said adding that the most people in the Diaspora are yet to see Sri Lanka and Jaffna."It is the right time for them to lend a helping hand. A Sri Lankan Tamil businessman is now operating a helicopter service to Jaffna and much could be done by the Diaspora".

Visit Jaffna

“There is free access and people can visit Jaffna as they wish. We will commence the second expressway connecting Colombo with Jaffna soon and the distance can be covered in three hours,” he said. During an urgent meeting called with the officials of the Coast Conservation Department to discuss coastal zone management and development, the President ordered officials to take legal action against persons polluting the coastline and constructing unauthorised buildings along the coastline.

After listening to officials who explained President Rajapaksa that the coastline was at a risk of being polluted, due to the exposure to wastage from unauthorised constructions and hotels close to the coastal belt, where over 24 percent of Sri Lanka’s population and 25 percent of total lands belong to coastal areas, he instructed the officials to take a serious note on those who defey the orders of the Department.

President Rajapaksa, who also discussed about fisheries harbours in the country and instructed officials to develop the Peduruthuduwa Fisheries harbour directed officials to offer facilities and proper spots to the business community connected with the tourism industry along the coastline.