Vision for a Sri Lankan nation, bonded together as twins: PM

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa said his hope was to see a Sri Lanka where everyone lives like  twins, irrespective of ethnic differences.  

The Premier expressed these views at the ‘Sri Lanka Twins’ gathering organised by the Sri Lanka Twins Organisation at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium on Monday where 12,492 twins attended in a move to set a world record.   

Speaking at the event, Prime Minister Rajapaksa said he was proud of the “twins gathering” which was attended by twins representing all communities   and strata of society who were monks, priests, security personnel, doctors and nurses. 

“The Buddha said ‘Puththa Wasthu Manussanan’ which means children are the most precious treasure there is for us. When you are blessed with twins, the parents’ responsibility expands but not their salaries or the income. The parents expenditure and duties increase. They have to put everything in pairs starting from the feeding bottle. I pay my gratitude to the parents of twins for making this vast commitment,” he said.   

He said the Sri Lanka Twins Organisation has requested the declaration of a “national twins day” and commented the government was looking into making it possible.  

 “This organisation has already implemented a Rs.200 million tree planting project. They think about the future. I hope you will stay together for the country just as you are there for one another,” he said.