Today’s snag terrorism takes first place - PC Minister

Ariyapala Wansathilake Kurunegala Central special correspondent

In the six decades of independence from the British, we have gone backwards in terms of development and the general prosperity of the country.

Therefore all political parties who ruled this country should be held responsible for the present situation said Wayamba PC Minister of Health and Indigenous Medicine Neranjan Wikramasinghe addressing the 60th independence day meeting held at Mawathagama Samodaya grounds on February 4.

The PC Minister questioned whether the politicians who have come forward to serve the country have committed themselves to the task entrusted to them over the years. The President has taken positive steps to eradicate terrorism which has cost the country immensely.

He said we also should be happy that he has been able to liberate the Eastern Province and is also out to regain the Northern Province.

It is necessary to offer a reasonable solution to the ethnic problem to gain the confidence of all communities in the country.

The PC Minister said the media should act independently to pressurise and direct the Government to take the correct path to developing the country to better the quality of life of all citizens.

He said the ancient civilisations were destroyed and they started plantation agriculture by uprooting traditional crops grown in these areas neglecting irrigation and rain fed agriculture in the dry zone areas.

The PC Minister said the British people brought down labour from India giving minium of facilities to develop plantation agriculture mostly tea, rubber cocoa and coffee.

They destroyed our agriculture and an imported food items such as wheat, flour etc.

He said from 1948-2008 our politicians ruled this country. We have a very great history during the reing of the ancient kings. Those days the agricultural economy with self-sufficiency in food with irrigable tanks and rain fed agricultural system.

Rural villages were located surrounding the village tanks, temples, and dagobas. People in the village went to the village priest or school master for any advice and led a very peaceful and independent life as a community.

The PC Minister said but today it is very unfortunate that the LTTE’s major objective was to create panic among the public. Developing the country is a very difficult task with terrorism. Therefore we are committed to eliminate terrorism.

Mawathagama PS Chairman Sanath Meegolla, also spoke.