President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday reiterated his pledge to protect the country's free education and not to let any room for its deterioration.

Addressing a function held at the Temple Trees to present scholarships to the children of migrant workers, the President said his government is committed to preserve and carry forward the free education.

Marking Universal Children's Day, the President presented scholarships valued at 47 million rupees to 2,500 children of migrant workers who qualified in the Grade Five Scholarship Examination and the G.C.E. Ordinary Level and Advanced Level Examinations.

Recalling that the programme to provide scholarships to migrant employees initiated by him in the capacity of Minister of Labour in 1996, has now completed 17 years, the President said new legislation will be enacted for the security of children and parents and only trained domestic maids will be directed for foreign employment in future.

Foreign Employment Minister Dilan Perera, Governor of Central Bank Ajith Nivard Cabraal and Chairman of the Foreign Employment Bureau Amal Senalankadhikara also attended the function.