Sinhala, Tamil should be taught in schools - Sumedha Jayasena

by Uditha KUMARASINGHE

Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkody said that the bold move by the Government to defeat terrorism under the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa has created an atmosphere for all communities to move forward as one nation.

He said various challenges have to be faced when a country is moving forward with a future vision. However, the Government is competent enough to lead the country with determination to face such challenges.

The Deputy Speaker was speaking at a ceremony held at the Parliamentary complex on Thursday to hand over sets of books to Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim students from three schools in Moneragala, Hatton and Puttalam. The event was jointly organised by the Parliamentary Affairs and National Integration Ministries and Room to Read organisation. The ceremony had been organised under the theme Literacy and Peace to mark the International Literacy Day on September 08.

He said the aim of the Government is to create an environment conducive to all communities to live in harmony as a Sri Lankan nation within a unitary State. These students who came from distant areas got the opportunity to visit the Parliament and receive sets of books due to measures taken by the Government to eradicate terrorism.

Weerakkody said that the literacy rate in Sri Lanka has reached 90.8 percent, which is the highest reported in the region. When Mahinda Chintana was launched 2005 the country’s literacy rate in Information Technology (IT) was five percent. At present this has increased to 40 percent and the Government’s aim is to further increase it to 60 percent in the near future.

The Deputy Speaker said every year the Government increases the number of students to be admitted to universities. A decision has also been taken to establish private universities in Sri Lanka to offer degrees to students.

Sri Lanka is the only country which eradicated terrorism in a more humane manner and had provided food and medicine even to the terrorists and rehabilitated them. At present the necessary environment has been created for all to move forward as a more dignified nation, he said.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sumedha Jayasena said to consolidate the peace achieved, Sinhala and Tamil languages should be taught to the students. The Room to Read organisation in collaboration with the Ministry is making a praiseworthy attempt to improve the literacy rate among the students in remote schools. The room to Read has made arrangements to give sets of books to students who visit the Parliament.

These students, teachers and parents could now visit Parliament due to the Government efforts to end the three decades old terrorism. Eradication of terrorism has paved the way for everybody to enjoy peace. The President has launched a series of programs to devleop the quality of education for chidlren, she said.