Advisor for Pirivenas of the Ministry of Education Rev. Dodampahala Rahula Thero said that assigning the responsibilities of the ministry of education with a member of the Boralugoda Lion lineage is a historic event in a situation when several challenges have arisen in the field of education. Rev. Rahula Thero stated this while expressing his blessings to new Minister of Education Dinesh Gunawardana.
The chief incumbent of Abhayaramaya, Narahenpita Rev. Muruththettuwe Ananda Thero and the Director of Pirivenas Rev. Watinapaha Somananda Thero had also participated in this occasion. Former Ministers of Education G.L. Peiris, Bandula Gunawardana and Susil Premajayajtha, the state ministers affiliated to the ministry of education Vijitha Berugoda and Piyal Nishantha also had joined to congratulate the new minister of education Dinesh Gunawardan.
While delivering a Dhamma sermon at this occasion Rev. Dodampahala Rahula Thero further said that starting the duties by new minister of education Dinesh Gunawardana in the presence of three former ministers of education is also a historic event. There are a number of challenges in the field of education. These challenges can be succeeded. Rev. Rahula Thero said that he believes that Mr. Dinesh Gunawardana who is a member of the Boralugoda Lions lineage including Robert Gunawardana and Phillip Gunawardana who loved this country, had an inborne ability to succeed these challenges. After the religious observances the Minister Gunawardana met the senior officers of the ministry and mentioned that the expectation of the students and their parents is to empower the younger generation with knowledge and the responsibility of the ministry of education is to assist for achieving that expectation.
Knowledge is highest treasure in the field. All the other resources in the society will get destroyed. But the treasure of knowledge gets renewed day by day without being destroyed. That is why the ministry of education deserves a great respect. There were obstructions during the time of Governor Donoughmore. Overcoming all those obstructions, Hon. C.W.W. Kannangara was able to pass the Act of free education by majority of one vote. Because of the enactment of that Act various methods of distributing the knowledge have been emerged, the minister said. A large number of our children become school dropouts. In order to make them strong citizens of the country, more and more post educational institutions must be created. Japan gave us the television as a resource for developing the knowledge. But we must inquire whether we have used the electronic communication methods such as TV and radio as the tools for developing the knowledge, said Mr. Gunawardana.
While expressing his ideas at this occasion former Minister of Education and The Present Minister of Foreign Affairs Professor G.L. Peiris pointed out that a number of fruitful measures to overcome the challenges in the education system have been implemented during the past two years’ time. Specially Mr. G.L. Peris appreciated the help of the officers in the ministry of education given to conduct the G.C.E. Advanced Level Examination.
