Equal opportunities for all

By Shanika SRIYANANDA

"Duwe Hondata Igenagena Lankawata Vedak karanna" (Study well and be a good citizen to Sri Lanka), President Mahinda Rajapaksa advised Yuresha Buddhini, the Grade 8 student of Balangoda Maithreya National school.She was one of the lucky schoolgirls to be felicitated by the head of state, who supports the younger generation to bloom.

The doors of Temple Trees were specially opened for Yuresha who excelled in education as well as in sports.Her talent was tapped when the President visited her school to open the newly constructed two storeyed building recently. President Rajapaksa who was impressed by the exceptional skills displayed by her, invited Buddhini to visit Temple Trees with her parents to meet him.

When Buddhini visited Temple Trees on Wednesday, the President arranged a special felicitation ceremony in her honour and awarded a scholarship to assist her in pursuing further education.Congratulating Buddhini on her achievement the President advised her to pursue her educational and sports activities with grit and determination and achieve the pinnacle of success as a useful citizen who could render a great service to the country and nation.

Buddhini who was overcome with emotion thanked the President for the advice and assistance rendered to ensure her future progress.President Rajapaksa said that an improved road network has reduced travel time between areas, supplemented development and established closer links between people.

“The government’s emphasis on developing roads has ensured that people spend less time for travel and have more time for work. I feel like the country has become smaller due to improved roads” the President said at a function held after declaring open the renovated, ancient 18 Bend (Dahata Wanguwa) road on Kandy – Mahiyangana road. The renovation work cost of Rs.5,000 million.

President Rajapaksa who drove his vehicle along the entire length of the Dahata Wanguwa recalling his experience said such experiences for him were a rare occurrence and he had done it after he drove a car during the opening of the Southern highway.

Safety

"The Government while building better roads for vehicular traffic was also conscious of the safety of the pedestrian. I have instructed officials to include separate lanes for pedestrians when planning and developing of major roads in the future", he said.

Speaking on the Kandy-Mahiyangana road, he said the development of this historic road was neglected by successive governments. “They neglected the development of rural areas in the same manner,” he said adding that the present government never neglects development and activities are being carried out with equal focus in all areas.

“Our aim is the equal distribution of facilities to all areas. These development activities have helped the country to become self sufficient in rice and they plan to extend this to liquid milk production as well.

We are planning to provide every child in the country a free glass of milk in the future,” he said.Emphasising the need to become self sufficient in other food production by increasing production he pointed out the need to accelerate development to achieve equal distribution of resources and facilities to all areas at the earliest possible time.

"The Government was not prepared to subjugate religion, good moral habits, traditions and customs of the country and nature in the name of development", he said requesting people to look after these newly built roads and not to misuse them.

The re-construction work of the road was carried out at an estimated cost of five billion rupees granted by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The 41 KM long road was widened to 15 metres and carpeted from Udathenna to Mahiyanganaya.The entire stretch of road includes 10 bridges and 320 box culverts with 37 widened culverts.Renovation work on the 18 bend road which commenced in April 2008 completed construction in less than four years providing motorists a safer and a comfortable journey reducing travel time from four to 1 ½ hours.

Global peace

A blessings ceremony by a world Sangha congregation for global peace to mark the 2600th anniversary of the Buddha’s Enlightenment, held at the Nelum Pokuna(Lotus Pond) theatre in Colombo under the patronage of President Rajapaksa. Over 500 members of Maha Sangha from 30 countries joined over 1,000 members of Maha Sangha from Sri Lanka at the inaugural ceremony organized by the World Buddhist Sangha Council with its Sri Lankan branch spearheading efforts in hosting the event.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa recognised the work of the World Buddhist Sangha Conference during a function held at the Temple Trees. He had presented mementoes to Buddhist monks from 30 countries who participated in the Ashirwada Pooja for universal peace and co-existence held in connection with the completion of the 2600th Sri Sambudaththwa Jayanthi.President Rajapaksa presented a Buddha statue and a coin issued in connection with the 2600th Sri Sambuddhathwa Jayanthi to the President of World Buddhist Sangha Council, Most Venerable Liao Chung, and other monks.Pirith chanting was conducted in Theravada, Mahayana, Vajrayana and Korean traditions to invoke blessings for World Peace and unity. Prior to this Buddha Pooja was conducted with 20 monks, 20 lay persons and 20 drummers taking part.

Several devotional traditional dances too were conducted on stage where the magnificent background settings included a Buddha statue, a stupa and a replica of Buddhagaya.Later as the Maha Sangha chanted pirith President Rajapaksa made offerings at the Buddha statue. Most Ven.

Liao Chung Maha Thera, President – World Buddhist Sangha Council praising Sri Lanka for organising the ceremony said “Sri Lankan Buddhism has made magnificent achievements in the past as well as in the present.

It is not only an old Buddhist country but the pioneer in promoting the Buddhist internationalization in the modern day”. “May the very success of this congregation bring about world peace, humanity’s happiness, the prosperity of Sri Lanka, and the good health of the President Rajapaksa, members of the Maha Sangha and all devotees”, the Thera added.Ven. Prof. Bellanwila Wimalaratana Anunayaka Maha Thera who headed the organizing committee in an ‘anusasana’ said that the World Buddhist Council has brought the global Buddhist community under one flag.

Significance

The Thera welcomed the joining of world Buddhist community for world peace and unity and added that this happening at the 2600 Sri Sambuddhathwa Jayanthi had added significance.

Some of the countries which are participating are Thailand, Myanmar, Nepal, Singapore, Malaysia, Bangladesh, India, Taiwan, Hongkon, Macau, Phillipines, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, US, UK, France, Germany, Sweden, Indonesia and China. President Rajapaksa made the first financial contribution to the 2,600 Sambuddhathva Jayanthi Fund to construct the largest Buddha statue in a sitting posture in South Asia at Makumbura in Homagama, at Temple Trees yesterday. Around 2,600 small Buddha statues will be kept at the feet of the giant Buddha statue. Buddha Statue Development Committee Chairman Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena offered a Buddha statue which is to be kept at the base of the main Buddha statue to the President.