Our children are born in an historic era – President

Dear sons and daughters....

‘Please remember that this era in which you have been born is a historic era, when you read history you will have entertained a cherished dream to have been born during the era of Kings Dutugemunu, Vijayabahu, Kashyapa Rajasinghe or imaladharmasooriya.

We will also think that if we were born then we could have served in King Dutugemunu’s army or the construction sites of Maha Seya, Kala Wewa, Sigiriya or Jaya-ela and dedicated

ourselves for such mobile service as proud citizens, states President Mahinda Rajapaksa in a message to mark International Children’s Day.

The message adds:

Dear sons and daughters, ‘What has dawned today is such an era. You have witnessed the manner in which our motherland was united. Although you could not sacrifice your lives towards it you would have contributed towards that historic deed by at least donating a bottle of water’

‘Similarly a majority of our country’s children have been fortunate enough to trample the bed of a sea port after several thousand years. You have seen now a large number of mega construction activities which will stand as monuments for thousands of years hence are coming up in the country. It is a good future to see the manner in which this is steering the country to an important position in the world map.

You are living in a period which will be commemorated with great desire by the world in future. You too should also strive to achieve excellence which will help record you and your name in history. I sincerely hope that you will use your childhood meaningfully towards achieving that end’.