He was addressing a function held at Navadagala in Elpitiya, Galle to award certificates and gifts to students who had successfully completed the Dress Making course conducted by the Informal Education Unit of Elpitiya Zonal Education Office. The Minister was the Chief Guest at the ceremony.

"At present rural women in large numbers are interested in beauty culture and culinary arts. The Government is concerned over these new trends in rural women. The government is planning to start courses in those fields to facilitate them to learn the subjects of their choice," he said.

"As Media Minister, I am resolved to plan and implement suitable courses in Beauty Culture and Culinary Arts and many more such subjects for rural women under initiatives of all departments and institutions under my ministry for which I have already instructed my officials and discussions are held over the matter. These courses will be introduced at electoral division basis," Minister Karunatilake said.

"By introducing such courses into rural areas we can improve the young women's professional skills and in turn it will empower them to start their own ventures in such trades. These trades are booming businesses these days," he said.

Course conductor Chandrani Wickramthilake delivering the welcome address commended the minister for his presence.

I have voluntarily conducted these courses for well over 15 years during which we organised functions of the sort each year, on every occasion inviting a number of past ministers for their participation as chief guests. However no one responded to our invitations so far. Minister Gayantha Karunathilake was the first to appreciate our hard work and graced the occasion to our great satisfaction, she said.