“Children, if you want to change the world, read books,” Legendary South African President who visited a school for a Gammadda project

"If you want to become a leader, read books. If you want to become a doctor or an engineer, read books." These were the words of former South African President Thabo Mbeki, to the students of Ampegama Primary School in Galle.

President Mbeki fondly revealed how, during his childhood marked by extreme hardship, he sought out books to read.

President Mbeki was participating in the foundation stone-laying ceremony for the new Thabo Mbeki Library building being constructed for Ampegama Primary School under the Gammadda initiative.

Importantly, this global statesman did not forget to spend time warmly and kindly with the school children who participated in the event, praising their skills in traditional dance performances at the event.

Gammadda Leader Chevaan Daniel stated that a Thabo Mbeki Library will be opened in a rural village in southern Sri Lanka even before one is established in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The event took place last Sunday and was attended by hundreds of children, teachers, officials and the Gammadda Team.

President Mbeki, the second president of democratic South Africa, and former head of the African Union, is known as ‘Africa’s Renaissance Man’ for the resurgence of the African continent. He was on a 4-day visit to Sri Lanka at the invitation of the Capital Maharaja Group.