President requests patriotic citizens:
Join us in building Northern rail track
Rohan MATHES
* The last Yal Devi train to operate between
Colombo and Jaffna was in 1990.
* Service terminated at Vavuniya.
* Yal Devi was the largest revenue earner for
the Sri Lanka Railways.
Addressing a representative gathering on the occasion of the launch
of the Colombo - Jaffna railway track extension project at President�s
Office yesterday, President Mahinda Rajapaksa requested all patriotic
citizens to join in building the rail track.
�Every single sleeper on this rail track should show the love for a
united country. All those who love the country should join to build this
track.
�I wish that the Yal Devi rail track that would be constructed would
show to the entire world the desire of our people to live in one
country,� he said. By reconstructing the Yal Devi Railway line we are
defending the North, he said. �Yal Devi resonated with the pulse of the
Sri Lankan nation. In a sense, Yal Devi is a cultural messenger,� he
added.
The President requested the Transport Minister to run the Yal Devi
train at least five more kilometres beyond Vavuniya by April 23 next and
consolidate the nation�s resolve.
The President while promising to donate his April salary to the
project called upon all patriotic citizens to contribute to it.
�The reconstruction of the 28 railway stations between Vavuniya and
Jaffna would be undertaken by the people in the southern districts.
�The Hambantota district has already undertaken to rebuild the Jaffna
railway station.
The President also called upon India, China. Pakistan, Japan and
other countries that helped Sri Lanka in the struggle against terrorism
to come forward and assist in the reconstruction so that terrorism would
not be able to raise its head again.
President Rajapaksa promised to donate his April salary towards the
project. Several others, including President�s Office staff, Artistes
Deepika Priyadarshini Peiris, Parliamentarian Puthrasigamany, Malini
Fonseka, Ravindra Randeniya and philanthropist Jayantha Dharmadasa made
their donations to the fund.
Transport Minister Dullas Allahaperuma also addressed the ceremony.
An official website for the said project was launched by renowned
Cricketer Muttiah Muralitharan on President Rajapaksa�s invitation. |