A ceremony was held to donate computer equipment, books and piano sets to 66 schools to mark the 66th birthday of President Mahinda Rajapaksa that falls on today. Organized by the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Education, this ceremony was held with the participation of the President yesterday (Nov 17) at Temple Trees.

Each selected school was donated 5 computers, a laser printer, UPS (Uninterruptable Power Supply) units, CD sets containing lessons material, books for the development of libraries, and a piano.

In realization of the President’s idea that the best should be given to the children of the nation, the organization of an event like this was a cause for much pleasure, said Minister of Education Bandula Gunawardena, addressing the ceremony.

He also said that the different efforts taken by the leaders of our country in the past were withdrawn due to the influence of the international community. However, President Rajapaksa, in spite of all those forms of influence, traversed up to the conclusion without bequeathing the conflict to the children. The President thus rendered the great service of creating a free nation in which all communities can live in harmony anywhere in the country and children can go to school, he added.

In leading the country towards development via the five strategic methods of the Mahinda Chintana Forward Vision, President Rajapaksa prioritizes improving the children community, the nation’s most valuable asset, in terms of qualities and intelligence, the Minister pointed out.

Speaking on the occasion, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga noted that measures were taken to promote Information Technology and English among school children, while 400 packages of library books were donated to schools last year.

The future of our country depends on our focus on the children. If we can allocate our time, knowledge, wisdom and good behavior to them, the future of Sri Lanka will reign supreme, he further said.

This event was attended by Ministers Prof G.L. Peiris and Geethanjana Gunawardena, J.R.P. Sooriyapperuma MP, Members of Provincial Councils, Secretaries to Ministries, principals, and a large number of students.