President's guidance needed in future - PM
 

From Ranil Wijayapala in Wariyapola

UPFA Presidential candidate Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse assured on Tuesday that he will not breach the confidence reposed in him by President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and 23 other political parties.

Addressing a public rally in Wariyapola, the Premier said he will gather all progressive movements around him to take the country forward while safeguarding SLFP policies.

The Premier said people will not allow President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga to retire from politics as she wishes.

"The people of this country will not allow her to retire in her present age. We need her to guide us in politics in the future too," the Premier added.

Premier Rajapakse said he expects to develop the education system under her guidance. He said he no longer needed to talk about handouts but he will continue to talk about investments. "I am not here to talk about handouts but to talk about investments. That is the need of the hour," he added.

He said that the 1,000 tank renovation project which was started under the guidance President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga will continue without any interruption to boost the agricultural sector.

Premier Rajapakse said he would form an Oceanic Resource Brigade to make use of the oceanic resources surrounding the country. Addressing the rally, SLFP General Secretary and Irrigation, Mahaweli Development and Rajarata Development Minister Maithripala Sirisena said the Sri Lanka Freedom party will never join the United National party as advocated by UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe.

He said the SLFP as a pro-people party will never work with the UNP since the late S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike quit the UNP in 1951 not to rejoin it again.

"The SLFP is dedicated for the people's uplift unlike the UNP," he said.