Knowledge hub through education

Rasika Somarathna

Sri Lanka's quest to forge ahead as a knowledge hub would only be fulfilled through education which is holistic in nature, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said, addressing a function at the Sabaragamuwa University, Saturday.

He said that his government is committed and is working to provide all facilities necessary to achieve this objective. While stating that the path to a new Sri Lanka lay in the development of both urban and rural areas equally, he noted that in education too the government was determined to provide equal facilities and opportunities for all areas.

In the University sector too the government is taking steps to provide all facilities and resources needed, he added. The President was at the University to open a new building complex for the Faculty of Applied Sciences and Faculty of Social Sciences and Languages.

“With the eradication of terrorism and the dawn of peace, we have the opportunity, after almost a quarter of a century to put the country in the path of rapid economic and social development.

Intellectuals to supplement this progress should come from the Universities” he said.

The President on the occasion also appreciated the use of all three languages in the University's curriculum and added that a population conversant in all three languages was an investment for the future in achieving the government's stated objective of building a new Sri Lanka. The new building complex at the Sabaragamuwa University has been constructed at a cost of Rs. 665 million. During his speech the President also mentioned that the government has spent around Rs.1,300 million to upgrade infrastructure at the University during the last five years.

The President also pledged to provide a fully-equipped sports complex and palyground to the university. Sabaragamuwa University Chancellor Venerable Kumburugamuwe Vajira Thera and Higher Education Minister S. B. Dissanayake also spoke. Higher Education Deputy Minister Nandimithra Ekanayake, Higher Education Ministry Secretary Sunil Jayantha Navaratne, Ministers John Seneviratne and Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Sabaragamuwa Province Governor W. J. M. Lokubandara, Chief Minister Maheepala Herath, Chairman of the University Grants Commission Prof. Gamini Samaranayake and Vice Chancellor Professor Mahinda Rupasinghe also participated.