Finance and Mass Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera, at an event held in Matara yesterday, told students there was no need to “bow down to power”, but encouraged them instead to have the backbone take the country forward.  

Referring to when he was welcomed to the school premises with a student bowing to him with betel leaves, the Minister said there was no need for that, but asked the students to bow instead to parents, religious leaders and teachers only.

The Minister of Finance and Mass Media was in Matara to attend the opening of a new dormitory at the St. Thomas’ Girls High School, as well as to lay the foundations stone for a new four-storey building.

“When I arrived here in the morning, I believe a prefect gave me a sheaf betel leaves and worshipped. I do not think this should happen. We should not bow down to power. Worship your religious leaders, clergy, parents, and teachers. That's enough. No need to worship the chairman of the Pradeshiya Sabha, or a MP or a Cabinet Minister. How do you know what wrong things I do when I go home? Therefore, respect the people who deserve the respect," he told the students.

“We want to create a society that can keep the backbone straight and function,” he said emphasizing that times have changed.

“We've heard of agricultural, industrial, technological revolution. It's about the digital revolution now. Our aim is to create a young generation fitting to the change. Before us we have an era that talks about artificial intelligence. By 2030, the functions of the accountants will be fully taken by technology. There are signs that there will be driverless cars by 2025," the Minister said.

“The 2014 budget allocation for education in the country was at just under Rs. 196 billion. We have allocated Rs. 333 billion for education from the 2018 budget. This is how we are working for education,” the Minister said.