|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Tuesday, 14 September 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Politics | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
| President announces development war from October 15 by E. Weeeraperuma from Mahiyanganaya President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga yesterday said her Government will embark on a development war from October 15 and work in this regard has already been set in motion. "We will mobilize the people for a war of a different type -a war for development, a "Sanwardana Sangramaya" the President said addressing a mass rally at the Mahiyanganaya Public Sports ground after laying the foundation stone for a Presidential Cultural and Sports Complex. President Kumaratunga said although the Government has set October 15 to kick off the development war -or Sanwardana Sangramaya- she was happy to note that Mahiyanganaya has already given a start towards this project. President Kumaratunga said that she was happy to be back in the midst of the people after winning the General Election and that she had come to fulfil promises given to them during the election campaign. The development projects the Government intends to implement at electorate level and at every divisional secretariat level include health, road, agriculture, education and drinking water. Referring to the peace process President Kumaratunga said that the Government was determined to find a lasting solution to the ethnic problem through negotiations. We are happy to note that the UNF Government continued our work. They entered into an agreement and we will follow it to the spirit of the letter. Although they continued with the peace process we had our doubts as to the way things were moving. They had been giving into LTTE demands. But while accepting that there is a problem peculiar to the Tamil community, the President said her Government was fully committed towards a solution to the problem. "We know that we are called upon to make sacrifices. And the LTTE on their part should also make the necessary sacrifices and we await eagerly to see their move in this direction. She also called upon them to consider some sacrifices since the government has to pump large sums of money by way of subsidies. We can develop-provide employment to large numbers within the next 1 1/2 years, she added. But the President assured that her government will not pass the burden onto the people. At this public rally the President handed over the relevant papers to the Veddha chief where a donation of an ambulance was made. Students of War Heroes, who had done well at the GCE AL, together with farmers and several others received awards from the President. Healthcare, Uva Wellassa Development Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, Uva Governor Nanda Mathew, the Uva Chief Minister and the Uva Provincial Minister of Agriculture addressed the meeting. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
