People have placed faith, confidence in Govt’s policies - President

Rohan Mathes

COLOMBO: President Mahinda Rajapaksa affirms definite victory at any election held democratically, based on the faith and confidence of the people in the Government.

Presiding at a meeting with Provincial Council Chairmen and representatives of Local Government bodies at the Presidential Secretariat and Temple Trees last Saturday, President Rajapaksa pointed out that the people are fully convinced, confident and assured of the Government’s clear-cut process of establishing democracy and developing the country.

Matters pertaining to the decision taken to dissolve the North Central and Sabaragamuwa Provincial Councils and matters related to the elections due to be held therein shortly, were discussed as the main objective of the meeting.

The President said the Provincial Council and Local Government representatives, played the role of pilots and bore a huge responsibility in the process of shifting the country’s development to the village.

“Within a short period of 30 months, we have engaged in mega development programmes. We have liberated the East from the grip of terrorism and restored the democratic rights of the people there. This is a great victory achieved by the Government”, President Rajapaksa noted.

He said that his Government was always prepared to hold elections as and when required, with the present SLFP membership who loved their country and their party. President Rajapaksa further pointed out that his Government has already put in place programmes to arrest the rising prices of food, oil and the like.

As a solution to the oil crisis, tenders for the commencement of oil exploration in 2010, have been inked already. The Government has taken steps to control the prices of 15 essential items, despite the obstacles confronted. “We will take steps to solve the evolving problems, gradually and systematically”, the President added.

Provincial Council and Local Government Representatives expressing their views stated that they consistently had profound faith in the ‘Mahinda Chintanaya’.

They said that the false propaganda propagated by certain groups to tarnish the good image of the Government should be defeated and pointed out the need and a process to take the message of ‘Development’ to the masses.

Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa also expressed his views at the meeting.

Prime Minister Rathnasiri Wickramanayaka, Governor of the Western Province Alavi Mowlana, General Secretary of the SLFP Maithripala Sirisena, Ministers D.M. Jayarathna, Susil Premjayantha, Dullas Alahapperuma and other senior SLFP members participated.