President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday urged the country's students to develop the ability to face both victory and defeat equally to make life successful.

Addressing a gathering held Saturday in Kalutara Tissa Central College to mark the school's 75th anniversary, the President said the students should be determined to make their lives triumphant by enduring both wins and losses.

Students should focus attention to sports and extracurricular activities as well as to education, he said adding that the country's young will be made ready for the commonwealth sports festival hoped to be held in Sri Lanka in 2018.

The President also agreed to grant 50 billion rupees for the development of Tissa Central College.

The Principal presented the President with a memento to mark the occasion while a Grade 8 student Hansani Nimreka presented a picture pained by her. The Director of Philatelic Division Channa de Silva presented the first day cover and a commemorative stamp issued to mark the anniversary to the President.

Minister Wimal Weerawansa, Deputy Ministers Rohitha Abeygunawardena and Nirmala Kothalawela also participated in the event.