Call for strengthened ties

by Ananda Kannangara

Education Minister Bandula Gunawardene called for more extra-curricular programs to enhance the ties between schoolchildren from the North and South.

He said students of different ethnic groups must be engaged in co-curricular activities along with extracurricular activities since it is vital to create harmony among children and also to build a free and peaceful society.

Minister Gunawardene told the Sunday Observer that although such programs were regularly conducted between Northern and Southern schools a few decades ago, it is necessary to recommence such programs at this juncture, especially with the dawn of peace in the country.

"It is our duty to encourage not only schoolchildren, but also elders to indulge in various group activities between different ethnic groups, since it could further strengthen the gap between all, communities," the Minister said.

He said such group activities will also help schoolchildren cross the language barrier and enhance regular educational activities.

"Under this program, schoolteachers too have to play a major role and they could pay more attention to conducting sports events, debating programs and stage dramas among schools in Northern and Southern districts," he said.The Minister also recalled the days when sports teams from Southern and Northern Provinces visited each other regularly and played friendly matches in Colombo, Jaffna and other major towns.

He said the country's peaceful environment has given Southern schoolchildren and all youngsters an opportunity to visit the decades old historical places in the North and also to see the biodiversity which will also help to carry out future educational activities.

The Minister also invited children in Northern schools to visit the South and strengthen brotherhood among all.