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by Ambalangoda special correspondent

"Roads are the major links of a nation which promote mutual understanding among communities and join each other linguistically, culturally, socially and politically. If the roads are barricaded or closed for ever, disintegration of the nation is imminent," said the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Alhaj A. H. M. Azwer addressing the participants of the Annual Scholarship Donation ceremony of 'Ambalangoda Desapremi Organisation' held in the auditorium of Sacred Heart Convent, Galle during the weekend.

This year 133 scholarships worth five lakhs thirty two thousand rupees were donated among the students belonging to families of low income groups of Galle district. This is an annual event of the 'Desapremi Organisation' and sponsored by the eminent philanthropists in Sri Lanka and overseas, benefiting hundreds of pupils of the Galle district studying in the GCE (A/L) classes.

Minister Azwer referring to the vicious era of PA regime said that 'barricades' were erected in every nook and corner of the City of Colombo giving it an ugly appearance of a wartime fortress. Anyone entering the City of Colombo got the feeling of fear and terror during that unfortunate era he said.

By closing down roads, the previous government prevented the free movement of the people as well as the free thinking of the people. As a direct result of closing of roads to North of Sri Lanka, instead of bringing the communities closer, segregation and alienation were promoted affecting ethnic harmony, he said.

Distancing the communities of the country promoted distrust and hatred and the war mentality thus created due to faulty strategies of the PA further aggravated the situation of the country and the negotiations for a lasting solution was delayed, he said.

Enmity that existed between the Sri Lanka Government and the LTTE should not last long and now what was yearned by the majority of the peace-loving people of the country was a negotiated settlement for the ethnic conflict, he further said.

At this crucial moment of the Sri Lankan politics, it was very important to eschew petty chauvinism and fanaticism and concentrate on the unity among the Sri Lankans, he said.

In the same manner the roads were opened to facilitate the mobility of the people, minds of the people should also be opened because they were bogged down in the morass of communalism, for the past number of years, he reiterated.

Amidst all deprivations, the students in Jaffna used to work hard to pass public examinations even at night using the dim light of coconut oil lamps even though coconut oil was very expensive in Jaffna he said.

Large scale abuse of public property by the defeated PA Cabinet Ministers was a great threat to democracy and the State owned vehicles even if returned delayed, were not in a usable condition he said.

He said 'Desapremi Organisation' had rendered a unique service over the years for the student community of the Galle district by the donation of scholarships.

Galle district MP Hemakumara Nanayakkara (UNF) said English was the most modern language of the world. A good knowledge of English language was very essential for higher education, business and commerce, administration and management.

Speaking on the importance of meditation, Milton Galappatti said that through self determination, self confidence and positive thinking he was able to become rich though born to a poor family.

The founder President of 'Ambalangoda Desapremi Organisation' Buddhika Kurukularatne said that irrespective of politics, scholarships were donated to students found it difficult to continue their higher studies.

The Secretary of the Organisation, K. K. Lakshman also spoke.

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Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
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