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| Thursday, 14 October 2004 |
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Politics | |
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| President at Dr. C. W. W. Kannangara Commemoration : Free Education provided to develop brains, not bombs and guns by Ranil Wijayapala President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga said the aim of providing free education to all was not to create a generation who take to guns and bombs to solve problems but to use their brains and intelligence to redress their grievances. Addressing a ceremony to mark the 120th birth anniversary of Dr. C. W. W. Kannangara, the father of Free Education, at the President's House, the President said through the introduction of free education the citizen of this country were able obtain education without difference . "As a nation we should admire and be proud of this achievement by the country. But there is no one to admire it", the President added. President Kumaratunga said those who obtained free education from their motherland do not care about serving their country at least even for a few years. "They use to stay in foreign countries and come to Sri Lanka on vacation. Even on their arrival they are complaining about the Visa fee they have to pay for Sri Lanka. That is the gratitude they were paying towards their country", the President added. President Kumaratunga said the Education Ministry is now making a survey to ascertain how much the Government has to spend to provide free education for a child from Grade one up to University level. "The Government has to spend a large sum of money to produce doctors and engineers. But those who become doctors and engineers after obtaining free education, do not like to give of their service to their country even for a few years. This is an unacceptable situation", President Kumaratunga added. The President said as a result of the introduction of free education by late Dr. C. W. W. Kannangara Sri Lanka could achieve the highest standards in education levels among the countries in the world. She said the highest Governmental posts which were confined to elite English educated persons of the country were opened to those who obtained higher educational qualifications through the free education system of the country. President Kumaratunga said much has to be done to make free education of this country more meaningful and to free this country from its bad reputation as a result of the violent period experienced by the young generation of this country during the past few decades. President Kumaratunga said the young generation of this country should be guided towards becoming good citizens who can use their intelligence and brains to resolve problems rather than resorting to violence. She said she herself and her Government was committed towards this task. |
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