Bid to topple Government a total flop - President

Rohan MATHES reporting from Kegalle

KEGALLE: President Mahinda Rajapaksa reiterates that the UNP’s bid to topple the Government at the forthcoming Budget would certainly be a total flop and a disaster to the UNP.

Addressing mammoth crowds who had gathered at the Kegalle Esplanade despite the inclement weather at the fourth ‘Mahajana Rally’ of the Government yesterday, to inform and update the masses on the present political situation amid false and baseless propaganda by the Opposition parties, President Rajapaksa said, “we are not prepared to serve Ranil Wickremesinghe’s agenda.

I have full and absolute faith in my Ministers and Parliamentarians who are unshaken in their faith and commitment to the Government. They will not waiver for money. I challenge the UNP to defeat us if they can at the forthcoming Budget”.

The President added that so long as there are patriots who dearly love their motherland, his Government fears no one either locally or internationally.

In a similar manner the gallant Armed Forces liberated the East from the grip of the LTTE, they have also liberated Silawathura now and the LTTE has been confined only to the Mullaithivu and Killinochchi areas.

The Navy has searched for ‘Sea Tiger’ vessels in the deep seas, attacked and destroyed them.

“No sooner I assumed office as President, the LTTE resorted to their terrorism and violence which tested our patience.

After tolerating their barbarism which killed innocent men, women and children in cold blood to the utmost, I had to take them to task and resume humanitarian operations.

Once we resumed this task, we will not turn back.

If they hit us, we will also hit them”, he said.

He claimed that as Thamil Selvam had threatened to cripple the ‘Nerve Centres’ of the country’s economy, which to date has failed due to the heroic and victorious Armed Forces, Ranil Wickremesinghe too is now engaged in a vicious campaign to hamper and disrupt the ongoing economic development of the country.

“I am sorry not for the threats of Thamil Selvam.

I am extremely sorry about the attitude and behaviour of our own people who use all means at their disposal to attack and destroy our economic ‘nerve centres’, at a time when we as a responsible Government is striving hard to develop the country, by ongoing mega development projects such as the Upper Kothmale and Norochcholai power projects, Moragahakanda and Weheragala reservoirs, the Southern Express Highway and the Hambanthota Harbour among others”.

“When we try to obtain loans from the banks to continue such vital development work, they seek to impede and prevent such work, by protesting and demonstrating opposite these Banks, with threats of cancellation of their licences. Is this reasonable and fair?” he asked.

The President said that development which was confined only to the Western Province urban areas of Colombo and Gampaha, is now extended to the rural areas of the country.

Certain sections of society is badly hit by this paradigm shift in development. “This is a ‘Class Struggle’ he added.

Ministers Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Mano Wijerathna, Rajitha Senarathna, Athauda Senevirathna, Maithripala Sirisena and Chief Minister Reginald Cooray also addressed the rally which also included traditional and cultural song and dance to entertain the vast crowds which gathered at the esplanade to cheer the President.