Even today, there are people without land deeds. How many parliaments in Sri Lanka have not given a solution to this problem? Many people could not understand this great sacrifice. The village leaders of Sri Lanka made those sacrifices for building the future leaders of the country for the survival of the country and the Buddha shasana.
We have heard and read that Sir D.B Jayathilaka had an amazing proficiency in many languages including Sinhala language and Sanskrit language. We respect that.
We have heard that Dr Sarvapalli. Radhakrishnan, who was President of India, spoke to Yakkaduwe Pagngnarama Nayaka Thera in Sanskrit language when he came to Vidyalankara. Strength required for this is received through the Sanskrit language teaching at Vidyalayankara. This incident will never be erased in the history of Vidyalayankara as well as in the history of India, in relation to administration. We gratefully remember the creativity and sacrifice of Sir D.B Jayathilaka to build the country to such a state.
When Ruwanweli Maha Saya Chaitya was placed , D.B. Jayathilaka was qualified to unveil it. The people and Mahasangha considered him as the king of the country at that time. He possessed the glorious leadership that could protect and secure the Buddhist culture which was the backbone required for the survival of our country’s culture and the continued existence of the country.
Joining this occasion as the Prime Minister of the country, I once again bow my head to the statue of Sir D.B Jayathilaka because of the relationship he had with my beloved father.
The guidance he gave in the State Council to confirm the freedom of our country should be explored even today. We must not stop exploring. The research done on Sir. D.B Jayathilaka may turn out to be an exploration of the identity of Sri Lanka as well as the identity of the language, security, development and survival of our country at difficult times. On behalf of the government, we promise to support the Cabinet in carrying out the necessary research activities. We are not a lost nation. Although we were hungry, we did not abandon our language. We did not abandon our culture. Our language and culture is the identity of our nation. We will protect the foundation that Sir D. B. Jayathilaka created as a hero of the country’s freedom struggle.
Today we live together with different nations of the world. It is because of D.B Jayathilaka’s guidance in strengthening international relations. We are working continuously to follow and understand that noble character.
Former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, State Minister Sisira Jayakodi, Prasanna Ranaweera, Member of Parliament Harshana Rajakaruna, Yadamini Gunawardena paid floral tributes to the statue. Dean of the Sabaragamuwa University , Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru Professor Kamburugamuwe Vajira Thera, Head of the Peliyagoda Vidyalankara Pirivena, Colombo ,Halawata District Sanghanayake, Velamitiyawe Keerthi Sri Gnanarathana Thera,General Trustee Ganesh Dharmawardena, Dr. Haritha Jayathilaka and relatives of Sir D.B Jayathilaka attended for this event.
