RIYADH, 26 September 2006 — The Sri Lankan ambassador to the Kingdom has called on the island’s community schools to make teaching of the Tamil and Sinhalese languages compulsory to promote healthy interaction between the speakers of the two communities.
“Learning the language of the other community will definitely help them understand their social and cultural values which would eventually lead to peace in the island,” said Ambassador A.M.J. Sadiq, while delivering a speech at the annual prize giving and colors awards held at the Sri Lankan International School (SLIS) at Riyadh Intercontinental Hotel.
He added that the students of the island’s two schools in Riyadh and Jeddah could set an example of peaceful coexistence to be emulated by those living in Sri Lanka. Although Sinhalese and Tamil are the official Sri Lankan languages, neither community tries to learn each other’s language. Sinhalese is widely spoken by the majority 80 percent Buddhists and Christians, while Tamil is spoken among the Tamil and Muslim communities. Muslims living in areas other than the north and east are given the option to learn Tamil or Sinhalese in government schools.
While commending the teachers and students for the excellent results produced at examinations, Sadiq said teachers should not show favoritism toward any particular student and they should identify the talents and skills of pupils to properly guide them in accordance with their aptitude to help them choose their respective vocations.
“All cannot become doctors, nor can they become engineers. Their future should be decided on their own strength,” he said. Stressing the importance of education, Sadiq concluded by quoting Diogenes, “Education is a controlling grace to the young, consolation to the old, wealth to the poor and an ornament to the rich.”
Mumtaz Anzar, a Sri Lankan business magnate in the Kingdom who was the guest of honor at the function, distributed the awards to the prize winning students.
In his annual report, school principal M.A Farook said the latest exam results show that the students have achieved a high degree of academic excellence. “This achievement is reflected by the increase in the total number of distinctions obtained at the Edexcel GCE (Ordinary Level) examination,” he said, highlighting the fact that the school produced a record 47 distinctions — 23 at the GCE (AS) examination and 14 at the GCE (Advanced Level) examination.
M.K.M. Ashraff, chairman of the school’s board of management, said: “Last year two students gained admission to the medical college in Sri Lanka. Some of our students who have become doctors are practicing in Sri Lanka and in other Western countries.”
The best all-round students’ awards were given to Shaira Hareez (primary section), K.D.S. Natasha (junior) and Fazla Ameer (intermediate). The best performer was Tahiyya Ismail at the GCE (Ordinary Level) and Shayma Mohideen and Farah Akram at the GCE (Advanced Level) examinations. Mahaweli and Kelani House won the Inter House Academic Championship.
