The President was speaking at the opening of the maritime archaeological museum established at the Dutch warehouse in the Galle Fort Premises under the Galle Fort Conservation project which was funded by the Netherlands Government.

The President added that politicians should have an in depth knowledge of the history of their area and the country at large.

The Netherlands Government has provided Rs. 160 million to rehabilitate the Dutch warehouse where artifacts found in ships sunk in and around the Galle harbour are to be placed for public display.

President Rajapaksa said there was an era that the people lost a part of this country and became the tenants in their own Motherland with the removal of history as a subject from the school curriculum.

The younger generation should learn humanity, values and virtues and the country’s rich culture through history, he said.

The President added that the country was on the verge of being divided after the people lacked knowledge of their country’s proud history.

The Government has ended an era in which people in various communities fought each other. There are a number of betrayals recorded in the country’s history and all these betrayal ended in tragedy and the people had to suffer, he said.

The Sinhalese Kings never abandoned the task that his predecessor could not fulfil during his tenure in office. The successor following the footsteps of his predecessor accomplished the task.

People’s preference for imported goods over local ones should be changed, he said. President Rajapaksa said schoolchildren, teachers and the public can get an idea about the relations Sri Lanka has developed with foreign countries through the maritime archaeological museum.

Courtesy: UNP Media