"If there were no virtuous members of Buddhist clergy, we would have become bankrupt in human values by now and behaved like beasts in the forest. Therefore, our duty towards such noble human beings must be fulfilled without further delay," said Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena at Wellewa Bodhirukkaramaya ancient temple at Polgahawela in the Kurunegala district.

The minister was speaking after laying the foundation stone for the proposed medical treatment centre for Buddhist monks to be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 35 million.

"It is a matter for us to be proud of our Buddhist scholars who spread the noble message of the Enlightened One in many foreign countries.

"We live in a just society in peace and harmony today because of our Buddhist monks and the religious dignitaries of other faiths. We all should explore ways for fostering noble human values in the minds of university undergraduates and schoolchildren. Parents and teachers should take the lead in this regard and it is a task of national interest. Everybody should participate in the task of moulding the characters of youngsters," Minister Sirisena said.

Most Ven Handagala Ayupala Nayaka Thera of Ihala Dolospattuwe, North Western Province Governor Tissa R Balalla, Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce Jayaratne Herath, SLFP chief organizer for Polgahawela Tikiri Adikari, former Parliamentarian Lionel Rajapaksa and the Polgahawela PS Chairman were present.