The country’s greatest investment is the education and character development of its children. The Government’s aim is to nurture children with strong personalities who love and care for the Environment
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that the country’s greatest investment lies in the education and character development of its children, and that the Government’s aim is to nurture children with strong personalities who love and care for the environment.
The Prime Minister made these remarks while addressing the ceremony marking the 36th anniversary of Jathika Namal Uyana, home to South Asia’s largest rose quartz mountain range and the largest Na forest.
Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister further stated:
First and foremost, I wish to convey the Government’s appreciation to the Venerable Wanawasi Rahula Thero, who has dedicated his entire life to safeguarding Jathika Namal Uyana for future generations, and to everyone who has supported his noble endeavour. This Jathika Namal Uyana has a proud history spanning many centuries and is endowed with remarkable biodiversity, significant tourist interest and immense educational value.
The greatest investment of any country in the world does not lie in the buildings it constructs. A country’s greatest investment lies in the education of its children and the development of their character.
We have embarked on new education reforms with the aim of nurturing children who are not limited to academic examinations, but who also love and care for the environment and develop well-rounded personalities.
We have not confined environmental conservation to words alone. We have taken a number of practical decisions and measures. After 25 years, we succeeded in passing the National Environmental Amendment Act in Parliament. Through this, we strengthened the assessment of the environmental impacts of development projects.
We have introduced laws imposing fines of up to Rs. 20 million and prison sentences on those who dispose of hazardous waste into the environment and destroy our natural resources. We have also taken steps to impose fines ranging from Rs. 1 million to Rs. 10 million on those who destroy protected wetlands.
Further, as a result of the special programme we implemented to protect groundwater, people living in the vicinity of Namal Uyana are now able to obtain clean drinking water free of charge.
Let us all work together to protect the environment and safeguard the education of our children for the benefit of future generations.
Delivering an address at the ceremony, the founder of Jathika Namal Uyana, the Venerable Wanawasi Rahula Thero, stated:
It took an immense amount of effort to protect Namal Uyana. Safeguarding the environment is a responsibility shared by all of us. I do not speak about politics. Nevertheless, government officials now respond to our telephone calls, and ministers listen to us. That is a significant development. Since the Honourable Prime Minister is here with us today, I would like to make two requests. The first is to develop the Galgiriyagama Divisional Hospital, and the second is to develop Adiyagala School.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister of Health and Mass Media Nalinda Jayatissa stated:
It is fair to describe the Venerable Wanawasi Rahula Thero as both the founder and the guardian of Jathika Namal Uyana.
Protecting the environment is a responsibility shared by all of us. Venerable Thero also requested that the Galgiriyagama Divisional Hospital be developed. We will fulfil that request. We will also take steps to fill the existing vacancies at the hospital through future recruitment.
Our Government has given special priority to education. Accordingly, Rs. 500 billion has been allocated for education in the 2027 Budget. Adiyagala School is among the schools being developed under the new education reforms. Therefore, the Government will also take steps to develop that school in the future.
The occasion was attended by the Venerable Wanawasi Rahula Thero and members of the Maha Sangha; Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Wasantha Samarasinghe; Member of Parliament Thilina Tharuka; local government representatives, including Regional Council Chairman G. K. Bandara; Chief of Staff to the President Prabath Chandrakeerthi; Korean delegates; government officials; and a large number of residents from the area.
Prime Minister’s Media Division