Diploma awarding ceremony for 490 Higher Diploma holders and Diploma holders who completed NVQ levels 5 and 6 at Agricultural Schools takes place under the patronage of Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, Mr. K.D. Lalkantha.

The diploma awarding ceremony for 490 Higher Diploma holders and Diploma holders who completed NVQ levels 5 and 6 at Agricultural Schools was held today (16^th) at the Polgolla Mahinda Rajapaksa Auditorium under the patronage of Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, Mr. K.D. Lalkantha.

Attending this occasion, the Principal of Kundasale Agricultural School mentioned that the Department of Agriculture has a system of agricultural schools, and that such institutions providing practical training in agriculture do not exist in other countries.

Director General of the Department of Agriculture Dr. Thushara Wickramarachchi stated that, an opportunity has been created to produce a group of people equipped with knowledge, skills, and practical experience for the agricultural sector by creating these diploma holders

Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Mr. W.P. Wickramasinghe, who expressed his views on this occasion, mentioned that these diploma holders possess the youthful vigor necessary to overcome the future challenges in the agricultural sector.

Joining the occasion, the Minister expressed these views:

"I never needed certificates to work. Certificates are necessary. But sometimes certificates are not essential at all. Let's say someone is 50 years old. If they lived that way ten times over, it would be 500 years. Normally, I have done the work that a person would do living 500 years. That's why I said I'm challenging the youth.

I have been to several educational institutions. The sixth educational institution I went to made a big difference in my life. That sixth educational institution was located by the Malwathu Oya in Anuradhapura. That's where I was brought up to become the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation. At that school, we learned sitting on the ground. Before that, I had been to 5 educational institutions. The principal asked us why we were learning. What do you think we learn for? The principal himself gave the answer. We learn to understand the world. What did you do after learning this course? When we put together the things we learned separately at school and learned them together, we can understand the world. Now you have a picture of agriculture. Likewise, you need to have a picture of people as well.

Mao Zedong, the philosopher who laid the foundation for building China, says that our only purpose in knowing the world is to change the world. If so, your task should not be to merely maintain the existing agriculture. It is to change it. The people of our country have spent 6 lakh rupees per year for you, for this course. If the course is 2 years, 12 lakh rupees have been spent on it. You must serve them. You must serve the public who made this enormous sacrifice for us, for the money that was spent.

We must understand the world in order to change it for the better. A nation that does not create new things will not rise in the world. We must create things anew in every field. We came to power to change politics. I went to the Ministry to assume duties. I accepted it. I signed. There were no dancers. No drumming. Even the chair I had to sit on was a high chair. Look at how the culture has been created. The person who comes before you is not a citizen. Not an equal. Even the chair has been made to belittle the person who comes before you. I changed the chair. Our country has been built to mentally subjugate another person.

By now, we have already abolished the privileges obtained from public funds, from the current President to former Presidents. The other day, there was an argument between a lawyer and a police officer. There, the law is enforced without looking at who it is.

Think that you will receive this diploma certificate and change the agricultural sector. Think that you will do new things. Cultivate labor. There is a government that values labor. You must receive the share of your labor. May you, the diploma holders, gain the strength to change the world”.

A large gathering including Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Mr. W.P. Wickramasinghe, Director General of the Department of Agriculture Dr. Thushara Wickramarachchi, Principals of Agricultural Schools, and others participated in this occasion.