Physical development alone insufficient to build a country, says President

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has stated that physical development alone is not sufficient to build a country and that such development must be connected with the nation’s culture and historical heritage.

The President made these remarks during a discussion held yesterday at the Presidential Secretariat to review the progress of projects being implemented under the budget allocations for next year by the Ministry of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs.

Attention was also drawn to the establishment of a new fund next year to support contemporary arts and artists.

According to a statement issued by the President’s Media Division, discussions were held on several initiatives, including the construction of alms halls and improvement of water facilities at rural religious sites under infrastructure development programmes.

The meeting also focused on the development of Dhamma schools representing all religions, including Buddhist, Hindu, Christian, and Muslim institutions, as well as the reconstruction of religious sites damaged by Cyclone Ditwah.

Special attention was also given to land-related issues that have emerged during the implementation of a project to provide solar power facilities to religious sites with Indian assistance.