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by Matara Cental correspondent

As we foresaw that the People's Alliance Government would not deliver the goods, we resigned our ministerial, portfolios to form a UNF-Alliance, our actions proved fruitful; and we were able to form a Government. Now the twenty year old ethnic conflict has ceased. It is an assertion coming from the members of the Venerable Mahasangha that they never had the occasion to attend a funeral or to administer "Pansakula" during the last year due to cessation of hostilities, said the Minister of Enterprise Development, Industrial Policy and Investment Promotion and Constitutional Affairs G. L. Peiris when he addressed the gathering after the opening of a centre of the Lanka Industrial Development Board at Nupe, Matara recently.

He said, peace could be restored because of the able leadership of the present Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. This is fact accepted by the whole world; and as a result many countries have volunteered to assist us financially. Activities relating to promotions of economy, and Industrial Development were earlier limited to the districts of Gampaha and Colombo. We have eliminated that practice; to serve all districts of the country alike. The percentage of bank interest stood at twenty two per cent, when we took over reins of government, but it has now gone down to sixteen per cent when conflagrations of war is booming over other countries in the world we are following the process dousing such conflagrations. Therefore we all could expect a turmoil free and economically prosperous future.

Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Resources and Deputy Minister of Southern Region Development Mahinda Wijesekara said, we could be happy over the bold step taken by us a year ago.

We are not in panic about elections. We could win both Akuressa and the Southern Provincial Council due to be held soon. We are only concerned about the promises given by us during the last election. The problem of unemployment is the first one irking us. I promise to provide 10,000 jobs under my ministry during the period ahead.

Minister for Expatriate Welfare-Lakshman Yapa Abeywardhana said, we took over reins, when the country was sunk in an economic abyss. Prime Minister has promised 10,000 jobs for unemployed graduates within the next two months. Even others will be afforded employment opportunities as promised during the last election.

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