Equality best weapon against separatism: PM

By Nizla Naizer

The Prime Minister yesterday said that equal and affordable educational opportunities to all will help eradicate the thought of separatism in the country.
“Although many of us believe that by wiping out terrorism all of Sri Lanka’s problems are over, some believe that there is still a need for a separate state,” Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake explained speaking at the launch of the Institute of Chartered Management Accountants, Sri Lanka yesterday.
“The Government may have eradicated the terror in the island, but we must also work on changing this mindset,” he called, adding that by providing equal opportunities through inclusive education this can be done.
“The newly established Institute provides the opportunity to study management accounting in Tamil and Sinhala. This is one step. We must provide them with the same standard of living we enjoy here in Colombo, they must face the same challenges we face. That is the only way we can eradicate that feeling for a separate state that is still in the minds of some.”