President Maithripala Sirisena said that the responsibility of the intellectual community is not to leave the country protesting that the salaries and facilities are not enough, but to join the campaign to build the nation for the sake of the future generations.

One should understand that there are problems in any sphere, but they also should understand not only the need for personal benefits, but also the needs of the country, he said addressing the 39th Annual General Meeting of the Public Service Engineers Association at the Auditorium of the Buddha Mandiraya in Colombo.

The President said that the Sri Lankan intellectuals have the freedom to study freely under the free education system and leave the country. But no other country has such free opportunities. Without lamenting on the poor standards of our country, everybody should give the maximum contribution to the drive to build the nation with confidence and determination, he said.

“The government is totally committed to solve all the issues in engineering, medical and other fields and take the nation forward,” President Sirisena said.

The government has the responsibility of providing health and knowledge to the people. Hence, we take every required step to strengthen fee education and free health service, the President declared.

He praised the Public Services Engineers Association (PSEA) for its valuable contributions to the development of the country, the President’s Media Unit said.

The PSEA Chairman S G G Gamage presented a souvenir to the President to mark the occasion. Ministers Ranjith Madduma Bandara and Champika Ranawaka, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Engineering Institute, Wimalasena Gamage and officials were present on this occasion.