President urges defence of motherland at launch of 750th Nenasala

President Mahinda Rajapaksa says that all should put aside their differences and come together to defend the motherland. The President said so while participating in the centenary commemoration of the Bellana Sri Dharmapala Maha Pirivena in Agalawatta in the Kalutara District recently.

Inaugurating the country’s 750th Nenasala and the web-site of the Maha Pirivena in coincidence with the centenary, the President said:  “This 750th Nenasala set up in the Bellana Sri Dharmapala Pirivena is not only for the Pirivena but also for the area. When the pirivena is improved the village is improved; when the village is improved, the country is improved”.

1000 Nenasalas island-wide
The 750th Nenasala was thus set up in pursuance of the ‘project for setting 1000 Nenasalas island-wide’, a concept of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.  

Nenasala ,a nucleus  to benefit  many
Speaking further on the occasion  President Mahinda Rajapaksa said:“The 750th Nenasala was launched today to benefit  not only this Pirivena but also for the children of the area. This is a great milestone.

Importance of Pirivena
“This Government has done more for Pirivena education than any other Government. This Government increased student  subsidy and bhikkhu subsidy. More action will be taken for improving the Pirivena education. This is because we have understood the importance of Pirivena education.

Concerted effort in country’s defence
“You  know that today in this country there is freedom of movement, expression and living. We have created an era in which everyone can protect his life. But today we are pressured to answer  why we brought about this era. However we know that when we look at the happenings in the world today, anyone could have different views and political wants. However we must put them all aside giving priority to the motherland. At a time when the motherland is threatened, it is the duty of everyone  to stand on behalf of the motherland putting aside all such personal agendas”.

Education Minister Bandula Gunawardhana, Plantation Industries Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe, Project Minister of  Ports and Highways  Nirmala Kothalawala, ICTA CEO Reshan Dewapura and  ICTA Strategic Communications Director Athula Pushpakumara also participated in the occasion. 

Nenasala, centre for many IT services
Participating in the occasion ICTA CEO  Reshan Dewapura said that by now Nenasalas (wisdom outlets) had become not only  rural  information technology centres  but institutions  very close to the people. They bring universal knowledge to the people and carry out many modern information technology services.

Caption
From left President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Plantatiion Industries Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe, ICTA Strategic Communications Director Athula Pushpakumara and Education Minister Bandula Gunawardhana at the  Kalutara Agalawatta Bellana Sri Dharmapala Maha Pirivena celebrations including the launch of the 750 th Nenasala and the Maha Pirivena website. 

This article is carried in Daily FT of 4th March, 2014.
http://www.ft.lk/2014/03/04/750th-nenasala-goes-live/