Political unity building New Sri Lanka

President tells 'Deyata-Kirula' ceremony at Weerawila:

Rohan MATHES in Weerawila

WEERAWILA: Political and communal amity are bringing Sri Lanka ever closer to peace and prosperity, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday.

Addressing a public ceremony titled 'Deyata-Kirula' (crowning the nation) held here to mark his first year in office as President and the groundbreaking ceremony of the proposed Weerawila International Airport, President Rajapaksa said: "The first step to a 'New Sri Lanka', as envisaged in the Mahinda Chinthana, would be uniting the country. Now it is becoming a reality. The JVP, the JHU, the UNP and other parties have now joined hands with us. This consensus is vital for building and protecting the Nation."

Addressing the mammoth crowd who had braved the heavy rain to attend the ceremony, President Rajapaksa asserted that he had called for a full stop to confrontational politics. Consensual politics was the answer. "This is the only way to create a New Sri Lanka."

He reiterated that the genuine concerns and grievances of the Tamil community have to be addressed. Their rights have to be guaranteed. The South must listen to them.

"There are many who unfortunately tar the LTTE and the ordinary Tamil people with the same brush. This is a grave mistake. Most Tamils abhor violence and follow the footsteps of eminent personalities such as A. Amirthalingam, Lakshman Kadirgamar, V. Anandasangaree and Douglas Devananda."

The President said he had never betrayed the Nation even in the slightest way. The Security Forces have been strengthened. The LTTE has not been allowed to hold residents of the East captive and the terrorists are confined to a few villages in the province.

"I love this country above all. I will never bow down before any terrorist, invader or power bent on dividing the country. I will never ever betray the interests of the country," the President declared.

The President stressed that he would not perpetuate the traditional falsehood that the country could not be developed owing to the North-East crisis. Similarly, he would not say that development stagnated because of high defence expenditure. He could not be duped by false reports and progress charts.

"I am very much among the common people. I feel their pulse, I know their aspirations. So let us all work together for the country's victory tomorrow. Then only can we truly crown the nation," the President remarked.

Referring to the Weerawila International Airport, the President told the gathering that it would be the epicentre of the massive development drive encompassing the entire country. It is being built on the premise that not only land and sea but also the sky over Sri Lanka could be productively used for the benefit of the masses.

While expressing regret for the acquisition of lands belonging to nearly 4,000 people for the project, the President said such sacrifices have to be made for developing the country. However, all affected residents will be granted ample compensation.

"What you should bear in mind is that Weerawila will no longer be an unknown village. It will become a mega city known all over the world. It will brighten the future of your descendants.

Similarly, the Hambantota will enable us to attract the ships which pass our ports without calling at them. Then only will we able to develop the country properly."

The President noted that his Government has been able to implement the Mahinda Chinthana to the letter. Apart from the Mahinda Chinthana itself, the people agreed with him on 652 other matters. This agreement with the people has not been violated in any way.

He outlined some of the highlights of Mahinda Chinthana including the fertiliser subsidy, a Ministry for Children, Maga Neguma, Gama Neguma, full stop to alcohol and drugs, Jathika Saviya, Samurdhi increases and higher salaries for public servants which have been implemented within the first year itself.

Commenting on the Budget presented to Parliament on Thursday, the President said he allocated a record sum of Rs.90 billion for education, which no other Government has done.

"I pledged last November that my Government would tirelessly work for the welfare of children. That is why I allocated so much for education.

The Budget also introduced the e-Village concept which will also benefit children. Infrastructure development and employment generation are among other salient features of the Budget."

He reiterated that no national assets were sold to procure these funds. "We have proved within one year that it is not necessary sell the country to develop it. Now no one is saying that national resources have to be sold to build the country. That is a major victory for Mahinda Chinthana."

The President he was delighted to witness the start of construction work at Weerawila exactly a year after he was sworn in as the President. It was also just a day after his birthday.

"These are two days that I consider as very important. I am grateful to all those who conducted religious ceremonies and other meritorious acts on these two days to bless me, the Armed Forces and the country. I am happy that I am among the people dearest to my heart to inaugurate work on one of the biggest development projects ever undertaken in this country," he added.

Several Ministers also spoke.

Weerawila International Airport

Total area			: 4,000 hectares
Runway length			: 4,000 metres
Runway width			: 75 metres
Compatibility with 
modern aircraft			: All passenger airliners, including the 
				biggest in the world, the Airbus A380 
				which will enter service next year. Ten
				aircraft can be accommodated at 
				any given time.
Capacity			: Two million passengers a year  can be
				processed through  ultra-modern arrival 
				and departure terminals. Full cargo 
				handling facilities.  
Expected date of completion	: End 2008-early 2009