He made these remarks participating at the centenary celebrations of the Visakha Vidyalaya , at the school premises, yesterday (23).
The President was warmly received by the school children when he arrived at the venue.
Later, the President, addressing the gathering, commended the great 100 yearjourneyof Visakha Vidyalaya.
President Sirisena further said that the challenges of new technology, commercialization and competitiveness, as well as the powerful social evils pose great challenges for the future and in that context our children should be ready to move forward while protecting our values and culture.
In 1917, Mrs. Jeremias Dias founded the Visakha Vidyalaya and it is the oldest Buddhist Girls’ College in Sri Lanka.
The commemorative coin issued to mark the centenary celebrations of the School was presented to the President by the Governor of the Central Bank, Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy.
Minister Ravi Karunanayake, Gayantha Karunathilaka, Secretary of the Ministry of Education Sunil Hettiarachchi, the staff of Visakha Vidyalaya, including its Principal Sandamali Aviruppola, parents and past pupils participated.
