Ranil promises new industrial city for Seethawaka
 

BY Chandra Sri Perera and Dayaratne Kumarasinghe

Opposition Leader and UNP Presidential Candidate Ranil Wickremesinghe promised to integrate Seethawaka Nittambuwa and Avissawella towns and create a new industrial city if he is elected President at the forthcoming election. He said he would also develop Horana and Bulathsinhala as new towns and modernise their road network.

Addressing a Presidential election rally at Horana on Thursday, Wickremesinghe said he would also formulate a special program to attract more foreign investment to the country with the help of India, United States and other foreign countries.

Since he had a good rapport with foreign countries in the sphere of international relations people should ensure his victory at the forthcoming election for the sake of the development and future welfare of the country.

Although politicians made rosy promises on election stages the country was in a sorry plight today with a breakdown in the economy, health, schools and all other sectors.

Wickremesinghe said it was not his habit to make promises which he could not fulfil. But he would only say that he would do his utmost to the country and its people to the best of his ability. The massive crowd present at the rally despite the inclement weather proved that the masses had trust and faith in him.

Referring to the corruption allegation made against him regarding a computer deal by chief UPFA Presidential election co-ordinator Mangala Samaraweera, Wickremesinghe said he has requested the authorities concerned to expedite the investigations into the allegation.

He was not afraid to face before any investigation because his conscience was clean and he had not done anything wrong.

Other candidates who faced similar allegations too should try to expedite investigations into them and clear their names if they are not at fault without trying to suppress investigations.

Referring to JVP and JHU claims that the CFA had betrayed the nation by paving the way for a division of the country. Wickremesinghe said he would never permit a division of the country as a true Sinhalese.

He said 60,000 lives had been lost in the war. This situation had changed after the signing of the CFA. Wickremesinghe said there were two specific clauses in the CFA where the LTTE had promised not to resort to war again and accepted the power and right of the Security Forces to protect the territorial integrity of the country, which were beneficial to us. Therefore, the CFA was acceptable to all three communities.

Devolution of power through provincial council or some other arrangement did not mean a division of the country. His intention was to become president of the country rather than a part of it.

UPFA candidate was today speaking about a balanced economy but he would like to ask Rajapakse to describe what it means.

Foreign investment was necessary to develop the country and provide more employment opportunities to the people.

Kalutara District MP Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, Galle District MP Gayan Karunatilleke, Horana UNP Chief Organiser P. D. Abeyratne, Bandaragama UNP Chief Organiser Tilak Karunaratne, Samaraweera Weerawanni, R. Yogaratnam and Horana UC Chairman Somasiri Gamage also spoke.