Development, welfare will not be curtailed - President

Rohan MATHES

COLOMBO: Development and welfare measures will not be curtailed in spite of the conflict and the Government is working according to a plan to bring prosperity, President Mahinda Rajapaksa asserted yesterday.

“We will see the fruits of our labour in due course. We must strengthen the Government to hasten this victory. Placing the Government in difficulty at this juncture is a betrayal of the masses.

It amounts to handing over the country to anti-national forces. People must be made aware of these sinister moves,” President Rajapaksa told a ceremony organised to mark the Sri Lanka Freedom Party’s 56th anniversary at the BMICH, Colombo.

The President noted that the Eastern Resurgence programme was already underway after the region was liberated.

He said they have not only liberated the East in toto from the terrorists, but to date also captured Silavathura off Mannar. Despite the ongoing conflict, they are continuing all development projects.

A new agricultural drive will start tomorrow. All major development programmes were underway and there is no restriction on granting Government jobs. No welfare and subsidy programmes will be truncated.

“We have not issued circulars to stop giving jobs to anyone. We have also not pruned any subsidies offered to the people. We have actually increased them.

It is in this backdrop that some politicians who betray our Motherland are seeking to deprive the country of financial aid from the international community,” he said.

He said the same persons campaigning against international aid to Sri lanka had deprived the country of billions of rupees through a tax amnesty for the wealthy. The Government would not have had to seek US$ 500 million if these funds were available.

He pointed out that the revelations of the COPE reports indicate the corruption of the UNP regime during their two year tenure and not of the present Government. Sixteen members in the probing committee are from the Government.

“We wish to reveal the truth to eradicate corruption. The media too should expose them to our supporters. However there is a way, a formality to be adopted in a democratic manner,” he said.

The President said that he was aware of the rising costs of living, and using all means at their disposal to lower it, despite the uncontrollable global market factors. The Government was losing billions of rupees as a result of the removal of VAT on essential items.

Referring to the SLFP, he said although certain individuals may leave the party and end-up as failed orphans, as in the past, the party which feels the pulse of the common man, will still stay strong and move forward triumphantly.

President Rajapaksa observed that the SLFP which originated from the ideals of the late Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, has grown and percolated itself to provide refuge to all the communities of the nation, despite the daunting challenges, obstacles and conspiracies posed by the reactionary forces from time to time.

He pointed out that in the past too, many leaders and stalwarts of the party such as C.P. de Silva and Mahanama Samaraweera had crossed over. The late S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike was assassinated. Nevertheless, the SLFP did not fall. It consistently grew and became a tower of strength, a formidable force to reckon with.

“The SLFP is not the heritage of the Bandaranaikes, the Rajapaksas or of any one individual. Anyone hailing even from the village if he or she possesses the skill, ingenuity, commitment and the patience, then that person could qualify to sit on the chair which I occupy now,” the President added.

He maintained that the SLFP has steadfastly evolved into a victorious party mainly due to its sense of discipline. They had consistently achieved success with the efforts of many in synergy, including the 42 from the Opposition who had joined them, with the full authorisation of the Cabinet, the SLFP Central Committee and the party members.

General Secretary of the SLFP and Minister Maithripala Sirisena, J.R.P. Suriyapperuma and Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle also spoke.

SLFP website

COLOMBO: President Mahinda Rajapaksa launched the SLFP Website “www.srilankafreedomparty.org”.

The website contains the history of the SLFP and other information.

President Rajapaksa also re-launched the new-look Dinakara, the party’s official newspaper.