Colonial rulers massacred locals - President Mahinda Rajapaksa

Some leaders of powerful Western countries who talk about human rights violations have today forgotten their own violent past and human rights abuses, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday.

The President recalled that the colonial rulers had violated those rights at times engaging in the massacre of locals who fought for their rights.

The President made these remarks at the Saddhananda Maha Vidyalaya in Rupaha, Walapone where he opened a new Mahindodaya Technological laboratory. Before visiting the school, the President vested with the people several other development programs in Walapone.

Addressing a large gathering in Rupha, the President recalled how colonial rulers had imprisoned some local freedom fighters in a cave at the nearby Madulla village and finally sealed off the cave resulting in their deaths.

He said that terrorist leader Prabhakaran too had engaged in such mayhem to destabilise the country but had ultimately failed.

While noting that his government has brought about unprecedented development in the country since eradicating the scourge of terrorism, the President stressed that the government's aim at achieving prosperity and a morally rich society, cannot be halted by placing obstacles.

The President said the government had brought about a revolution by introducing the technological study stream.

He said Saddhanada School will also become one among the 1,000 Mahindodaya Colleges in the country with the opening of a new Technological laboratory, equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, such as a science laboratory, mathematics laboratory, language laboratory, distance education unit and an information and communication laboratory.

"The government initiated the Mahindodaya technical laboratories program to develop 1,000 secondary schools with modern amenities to provide equal educational opportunities and facilities for children in all areas," the President said.

The President said that Sri Lanka had a proud history where the countries ancestors had developed many technological innovations which received world acclaim.

"Our children too have inherited these abilities and knowledge. Our duty is to help bring out these abilities with proper education," he said.