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| Wednesday, 9 July 2003 |
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Ingiriya central group correspondent Once the development projects launched by the government begin to bear fruits, none could pose a threat to our stability. Attempts on the part of our opponents to undermine the government would be of no avail. However the people ought to be fully alive to the disinformation campaign triggered by interested parties to the detriment of our government, said Defence, Transport and Highways and Civil Aviation Minister, Tilak Marapana at the commencement of the Asian Development Bank funded Ingiriya-Panadura Road expansion project. He said, "The criticisms levelled against me and the defence establishment by certain newspapers and individuals that we are apathetic to LTTE's activities cannot be replied to in the interest of the security of the nation. "Today we have arrived at a critical phase in the history of this country. Since it was obligatory on our part to settle the massive loans negotiated by the previous regime we were handicapped in undertaking large scale development projects during the last one and a half years. "However now that we have been able to surmount these difficulties. Our government will certainly be able to improve the lot of the masses under the leadership of Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremasinghe. Loans for road developments have been granted on easy payment terms, such as on 1 - 1 1/2 per cent interest and repayable within a span of 30-40 years as against 20% interest charged during the previous regime. How could the country flourish when the debt serving itself exceeds the national income," the Minister quarried? Once the colossal amount of foreign aid received by the government recently was fully utilised the people would enjoy a prosperous life, the Minister concluded. Kalutara District MP, P. D. Abeyratne said the opponents of the government were jealous of the development drive and they had launched a disinformation campaign to bring discredit to the government. It is for the people to judge as to whether the UNP or the PA really initiated development projects within Horana electorate which was once represented by a Prime Minister. He stressed it is absurd on the part of the JVP to shed crocodile tears against the peace initiative launched by the government and recalled how his entire family was massacred by the JVPers. Measures would be taken to provide relief to the people including the increase salaries of government servants, the MP assured. Horana Jana Sarana Forum's Chief Organiser, Ven. Handapangoda Pannasekera Nayaka Thera delivered an anusasana. Highways Ministry Secretary, Upasena Senanayake, ADB Country Director, John Cooney, Bandaragama UNP Chief Organiser, Hemantha Wickremarachchi and Panadura Chief UNP Organiser, Mervyn J Cooray also spoke. |
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