Secretary Defence and Urban Developemt Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa during his visit to the Jaffna peninsula, was the chief guest at a function held to distribute school uniform packs to students in Varani today (22nd April).
pic: defence.lk
1500 school children received gift packs from Mr. Rajapaksa at the function organized by the 52 Division of the SLA.
Selected students from the schools located around the 10GW, 16GR and 10SLNG Army camps thus received the gifts. During the function 24 school principals, 100 teachers and parents also received gifts form the Secretary Defence.
The event had been organized in association with several businessmen namely Mr. Morris Zonders Jayathilake (Canadian), Mr. Robert Arunashantha, Mr. Ajith Senanayaka and Mr. Anura Pathirana.
The education sector of the once war ravaged region has seen a revival as a result of the long reaching initiatives of the government. Billions of rupees have been pumped in to rebuild the northern region which had seen much destruction due to LTTE terrorism. The investment on peace is finally bearing fruit as private entities and individuals are also coming forward to help in the development process. This is one such instance where a group of individuals have come forward to help their less fortunate brothers.
Function held to distribute school uniform packs to students in Warani-22nd April
Speaking at the event Secretary Defence praised the philanthropic gesture of the businessmen for coming forward to help the northern children by spending their hard-earned money. “The responsibility bestowed on the students is to serve the motherland without any geographical or regional discrimination” he said.
Further speaking Mr. Rajapaksa stated that, having sharpened and culminated own talents from the schools, students should take our country into the developed setup of the world. He emphasised the need to develop the motherland instead of striving to develop some other country while serving abroad, ‘we should look into the development of our own country’ he reminded those present.
pic: defence.lk
This event is of special significance as the businessmen are all Sinhalese nationals who have come forward on their own to help their northern tamil brethren at a time when even the tamil diaspora has done nothing constructive to uplift the lives of their own people.
Under the ‘Northern Spring’ development programme the government had carried out many projects to renovate and build new school buildings, provide stationery and school materials, conduct awareness programmes and educational seminars, provide furniture and sports equipments and conduct sports tournaments. The security forces have played a pivotal role in this national campaign.
Security Forces Commander-Jaffna, Provincial Assistant Education Secretary, senior security forces officers, education department officials, school principals, teachers, parents and a large gathering of well wishers were present at the occasion. COURTESY:DEFENCE.LK