A people's victory - Mahinda
STEPPING out of the Elections Secretariat soon after he was declared
winner in the Presidential race Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse said
this was a "people's victory" and he would stand by the people and work
towards peace.
The victorious and emotional President-elect, before departing to
celebrate his historic birthday gift, told reporters: "I would say this
is a people's victory."
He paid tribute to all who helped him during this arduous election
campaign including the media, which generally gave him a wide and
positive coverage right throughout the campaign.
"This victory of the progressive masses would lead to a people's era.
It brings back to me memories of the 1956 social transformation
pioneered by late Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike and the service
rendered to this country by leaders like my father D.A. Rajapakse,
Sirimavo Bandaranaike and President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga,"
he said.
Rajapakse said that a majority of people by voting for him have
endorsed the 'Mahinda Chinthana' as the national programme for
rebuilding the country.
"I do not consider the powers of presidency as privileges. I will
never breach the confidence placed upon me by the people," he said.
He also urged the people to celebrate this victory peacefully without
causing any physical or verbal harassment to the opponents. UNP
presidential candidate Ranil Wickremesinghe was absent at the
conference. -MF
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