'Ensuring protection and security of the woman is the duty of the people'

By Shanika Sriyananda

A daughter ... is always a pride to a father. She is his adorable asset and also the most precious gift that needs protection round-the-clock. The 'father' who made the impossible, possible is a 'father' who always has a special fondness for daughters.The day the world celebrated International Women's Day the 'father' who always says that he is the proud father of the nation's children and youth, reiterated that the duty of society was to ensure the protection of the girl-child.

At the national celebration held at Temple Trees to celebrate the day under the theme - 'Let us protect the girl-child' - the President said the celebration of this important international day should focus on the need to protect the girl-child from many dangerous trends in modern society that have little regard for traditional Sri Lankan values of protection and care for girls and the young woman.

"The girl of today will grow up to be the hand that rocks the cradle, that rules the world and in a society where there are strong bonds of family with special honour for the mother, protection of the girl has special significance. Women in Sri Lanka hold a special position in the country with their admirable service towards economic and social development.

From the garment sector to teaching, literature, medicine, accountancy and other professions, women have achieved recognition for their capabilities. Their professional success is best seen by the four highest positions in the field of law being held by women today", he said.

President Rajapaksa said the woman who occupies an elevated position in Sri Lankan society renders an excellent service towards economic and social development. "She renders a very important contribution, especially in the garment sector. Similarly, she makes a great contribution towards a dedicated role in the legal and and human resources sectors too.

Significant

The woman has been able to occupy a significant place in almost all sectors including literary, medical, teaching and nursing sectors".

“The strongest foundation of our social link is the family in which women occupy the leading position. Therefore, it is the duty of the nation to protect and safeguard the pride and dignity owed to the mother.

“Ensuring protection and security of the woman is the duty of the people in a country. The theme ‘Let us protect the female child’ makes this year’s ceremonies more meaningful.

I believe that the protection of the female child will mean protection of the entire society. Everyone should be alert towards achieving this objective", he said.President Rajapaksa visited Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy in the middle of this week paid homage to the Sacred Tooth Relic and received blessings. He also participated in the annual repainting of the Ruwanweli Maha Seya amidst the blessings of the Maha Sangha.

Following the conduct of religious rituals by the Chief Incumbent of the Ruwanweli Seya, Venerable Pallegama Premarathana Thera, the President commenced the painting of the Dagaba with white paint.

Ruwanweli Seya

The sacred Dagaba is 338 feet in height and 942 feet in circumference. It is painted annually before the Vesak and Poson season and it cost over Rs. five million to paint the entire structure.

Hundreds of devotees thronged the Ruwanweli Maha Seya premises for the occasion.

"It is significant that after the conclusion of a thirty-year battle against terror that had the most adverse impact on our country, Sri Lanka is now moving in the direction of rapid development under conditions of peace and political stability", President Rajapaksa attending the 12th International Association of Ports and Harbours (IAPH) at BMICH said.”Sri Lanka is indeed honoured by the decision of the IAPH to hold this important forum on ocean trade in our country. We have had a long history as the centre of East – West ocean trade in the past being a key port on the Silk Route.

Today, with Sri Lanka’s strategic location in the ocean routes of Asia and Oceania a forum of this nature could contribute much to the socio-economic development of our region, as well as make an important impact on efforts to ease the current global economic crisis", he said.President Rajapaksa said the Government had identified the essential needs for investment in the development process and have laid emphasis on large-scale infrastructure development.

" These relate to highways, power, ports and aviation and the sustainable development of our valued natural assets. We are aware that in the keen competition for development-related investment, transport and logistics play a very important role. This has led us to give the highest priority to the most rapid and effective development of transport in every aspect. You will see this in the development of roads and highways, bridges, expressways, ports and airports.

These developments are carried out in keeping with a development plan that seeks to make Sri Lanka the key Logistics Centre in the South Asian Region. Towards this end we have established three investment and industrial zones associated with five ports and harbours in the country. Similarly, we have commenced the establishment of a fully consolidated logistics centre in the Hambantota District with the combined activity of the Hambantota Port and the international airport being constructed there.

Improving port facilities

In addition we are expanding and improving other port facilities in the country, such as Galle and Trincomalee, proceeding with the north - eastern port development at Oluvil, and also speedily restoring the northern port at Kankesanthurai. All this is being done in keeping with the highest and most modern international standards and technological advances.

These are intended to provide the best facilities for investors who are looking for opportunities in the new conditions of peace and progress in Sri Lanka. It is my belief that the large international presence at this forum and the very large participation at the International Air Freight, Shipping and Logistics Exhibition that is being held together with this forum is a clear indication of the new awareness in the world of the new investment opportunities in Sri Lanka. You are here today, with a measure of confidence in Sri Lanka that has not been diminished by false propaganda that is currently spread by those who are trying to prevent investment flowing to our country.

Your presence here today shows the failure of the efforts of those who still support the agenda of separatist terror that prevented development in Sri Lanka for more than three decades. You are a strong vote of confidence in Sri Lanka as a good investment centre and location for international and oceanic trade.

As much as we are encouraged by your presence here today, I urge you to make the most careful studies of the progress we are making and earn the best profits by your confident investments in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is open to business especially in ocean-going trade. We are a new centre of opportunity in this vast field of trade. I invite you all to make the best opportunity of this new growth and investment potential in Sri Lanka.

I commend the Sri Lanka Ports Authority for the commendable work done in developing the ports of Sri Lanka, and its good cooperation in working with leading port operators and developers abroad. It is also commendable that the SLPA and the IAPH have organized this event that is of much importance to the development strategy of Sri Lanka", he said.