PM says he will tackle 'burning issues'

From Rohan Mathes in Harispattuwa

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse said he will formulate policies and mechanisms to tackle the four burning issues - peace, youth unemployment, cost of living and fair price for producers and consumers, when he becomes the President.

Speaking at a rally in Harispattuwa in support of his Presidential candidature, the Prime Minister said he will bring forth permanent and dignified peace to the land in an environment where law and order, equality and social justice prevail.

He said he will not permit the Kela Neetiya (anarchy) which prevailed in the 1987/88 era to raise its head again. The cost of living has skyrocketed.

The farmer has failed to obtain a fair price for his crop produce, while the public too has had to purchase his needs at exorbitant prices from the chain of supermarkets which have emerged islandwide.

The CWE was privatised and sold. The cooperative was drastically weakened. The Paddy Marketing Board (PMB) was sold for scrap.

All this contributed to this chaotic situation, he said.

The UNF regime had not generated a single job. They shrinked the Government sector. The country's economy rested on a handful of Colombo-based business entrepreneurs. In the transport sector, the CTB was destroyed, the Prime Minister said.

"An Act has already been passed in Parliament to re-establish the CTB. Small and Medium Entrepreneurs will be strengthened. We have implemented plans to provide employment to all, based on qualification and experience. We have arranged over 40,000 highly paid jobs in Korea. Our Government prevented the privatisation of Salterns. We have drawn out plans to reap the benefits of the ocean area, almost 24 times of our land area. This is a resource which has not been adequately tapped by the last Government," he said.

Rajapakse said born and bred in a village environment, he understood the common man's suffering to eke out a simple living.

"That is why I have proposed to give a nutritious meal to our school children," the Prime Minister said.

He urged the people to have confidence in him and vote for him at the Presidential elections to take the country forward.