Daily NEWS Srilanka

The President has said that those who installed the gallows opposite the Dalada Maligawa to defame the Sacred Tooth Relics were today making queries about the religious reconciliation from Sri Lanka. The President made this reference opening the Suneetha Vidyalaya in Homagama.

The Suneetha Vidyalaya has been constructed at the Watareka Open Air Prisons paving the way for prison inmates to pursue studies. It is for the first time in the history of Sri Lanka with the objective of protecting the basic human right to education of prison inmates to change their path that the Suneetha Vidyalaya has been established. After its opening, the President undertook an observation tour of the classrooms and other location. He also exchanged views with prison inmates.

Addressing the function organized in parallel to the event, the President recalled how in the past even suicide bombers who approached to murder him were rehabilitated and integrated into society. The President underscored that it is now opportune to rethink ancient Acts.

The President said after talking with these children, he considered whether the existing archaic regulations are relevant for this era. One child said that the prison sentence for illegally entering a State Forest Reserve was three years. The era has dawned to draw more attention to the existing regulations. Instead of keeping prisoners in cells, it was mentioned in the past that these should be converted into rehabilitation centres, and provide education to these children. It is not possible to brand a person everyday as an offender in society. The President pointed out that they were able to rehabilitate and integrate into society, terrorists who attempted to murder them as they had placed full trust in society. If so they should be able to give due thought to the children and think more about them.

The President said that it was to insult the Sacred Tooth Relics that the Britons erected gallows opposite the Dalada Maligawa. It was in this manner that those who are now talking about human rights and are making queries about religious reconciliation, treated the Sri Lankans in the past. After the battle they ordered the killing of all boys over 14 years of age. The President said that he made these references as they think quite differently and not how they think.

Ministers Chandrasiri Gajadheera and Bandula Gunawardene also addressed the function.

Expressing his views on the occasion a prison inmate applauded the Government and the President for granting them an opportunity to pursue their studies.

He said he was drawing the attention of the entire world to this historic occasion. He thanked the President for providing them with a computer laboratory with 40 computers, a Language Laboratory with 20 computers and a Science Laboratory, which facilities exist in other schools. He commended the President for providing them with all facilities to pursue their studies.