President urges masses at SLFP's 54th anniversary commemoration :

Elect Mahinda to achieve prosperity

by Rohan Mathes

President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga yesterday urged the nation to vote for SLFP Presidential candidate Mahinda Rajapakse to make him the next President and drive the country forward to prosperity.

Addressing the large gathering at the ceremony held at Race Course, Colombo, to mark the SLFP's 54th Anniversary, President Kumaratunga reiterated that she was relinquishing all her State posts shortly with joy and dignity after doing a yeoman service to her party, the people and the country during her active service in politics.

"I am leaving with my head straight and sans any regrets. Abiding by the ideals of my late parents, I have not cheated a cent from the people or the country.

"During the 12 years, I have served not for my personal gains or glory, but for the country, even sacrificing my family," the President stressed.

The SLFP/PA was the only party which respected democracy and human rights. We should now pave the way for Prime Minister Rajapakse to fly that flag high in the horizon. I will remain for some more time in active politics and do my utmost to uphold the ideals of our party always, as the President of the party, she said.

She said that they are celebrating their 54th anniversary at a crucial point when the nation is preparing to appoint a new President.

The Party's Central Committee had decided to appoint as their Presidential candidate, Prime Minister Rajapakse who hails from a well-known political family.

They seek the mandate of the people for the service rendered by Mahinda Rajapakse for the nation, for the work performed by him and not for rhetoric. They would not however, resort to mud-slinging, violence or vote rigging in the process.

The UNP had destroyed the SLFP politically, and resorted to state sponsored terrorism in which they had killed over 33,000 people. Their late Prime Minister and party leader Sirimavo Bandaranaike's civic rights were stripped. Nevertheless, the SLFP which was built on firm foundations was able to resist and pull through all these trials and tribulations and integrate the split factions. From 1993 onwards, they won 11 consecutive elections and succeeded in bringing about a qualitative change and restoring democracy in the country.

The benefits of economic development which was confined only to 10 per cent of the population, trickled down gradually to the whole population.

There had been abject poverty of over 45 per cent in 1994, but this was brought down to less than 25 per cent later, despite the rising oil prices. The middle-class which was around 20 per cent in 1994, has increased to 40 per cent now. Three-wheelers had increased 12 fold from 1994. Land telephones and mobile phones has increased 50 times since 1994.

During the SLFP-ld Government tenures' from 1994 to 2005, public servants' salaries were raised four times. These Governments inaugurated many electrification projects, especially in the rural areas. In the education sphere, there had been considerable development from the time she was Education Minister of the Western Province. With all the globalisation policies and open economy of the UNP, the education sector was yet lagging behind some other countries in the region and she was instrumental in changing the system for the better.

Next year, 350 schools are to be developed to the level of popular schools with all modern facilities such as computer laboratories and libraries.

"The prolonged ethnic war was unwarranted. It could have been solved long ago. The UNP had pushed the Tamil people into a bloody conflict and paved the way for the creation of the world's most feared terrorist group, the LTTE.

"I put my country first before my political career and strived to resolve this crisis. We must make the temporary CFA permanent. The SLFP/PA have always vouched for the 'devolution of power' instead of a separate state concept. I am sure that 65 to 70 per cent of the people will agree to this," she remarked.