Let us work towards peace and unity - President

LET us resolve and determine on this 'Thai Pongal' day to work towards peace and unity desisting from conduct that would give rise to provocation, said President Mahinda Rajapakse in a Thai Pongal day message.

He said: "I consider it a privilege to address you on this very first Thai Pongal since I took my oaths as the President of this country.

According to the idiom Thaipirandhal Waliparikkum, you consider 'Thai' month, the dawn of the month of fortune. In this year that originates from the month of Thai, I want you to prepare for the year that would bring you prosperity and plenty.

Let us resolve and determine on this 'Thai Pongal' day to work towards peace and unity desisting from conduct that would give rise to provocation.

As our fore-fathers did for generations on this Thai Pongal day offering their gratitude to the Sun God and the cattle for letting the rains come on time and make the paddy fields glow with the promise of a good harvest.

This is because as the farmer collects the rich harvest, we all will be able to achieve prosperity provided there is peace among us. We have to rebuild what we lost as a result of war and that includes our brotherhood and harmony. I wish to state here that instead of making solemn promises,confined to mere declarations, my policy is to fulfil them.

We can keep our promises provided there is mutual understanding. Hence the year which commences with Thai Pongal will turn out be a year which would end any difficulties you experienced as a result of language.

Steps would be taken to implement the recommendation of the Language Commission to put a stop to the difficulties you suffered as a result of the use of Sinhala Language in the administrative districts where the citizens knew only the Tamil language and to ensure understanding among the ethnic groups.

You will not be kept hoping for much longer and on this Thai Pongal day we move with the hope that you would be in a better position by the next Thaipongal day to perform the 'boiling of milk' in a better and more prosperous atmosphere.

I know that you believe that the 'milk pot' placed on the hearth, if it pours from the direction of the East, this is a sign of good luck.

Thus I wish the 'milk pots' that boiled and poured out in your homes on this Thai Pongal day, may all turn out to be all milk pots which poured out from the direction of the East.

May this Thai Pongal day be a day of good luck to everyone".