Northern liberation looming - President
Rohan MATHES in Anuradhapura
ANURADHAPURA: President Mahinda Rajapaksa asserted on Saturday that
the day on which the oppressed masses of Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu,
could enjoy the same freedom and the liberty enjoyed by the Eastern
polity was not too far away.
“While eradicating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, we
will simultaneously develop the entire country,” President Rajapaksa
told a public rally in Anuradhapura.
Rejecting and denouncing the ‘ceasefire’ proclaimed unilaterally by
the LTTE recently to mark the SAARC summit in Colombo, President
Rajapaksa categorically stated that the Government was only engaged in
‘humanitarian operations’ to provide ‘humanitarian assistance’ to the
down-trodden and oppressed masses in the North, as opposed to war.
The President urged Armed Forces personnel still on vacation, to
report to their respective duties at their very earliest as their
valuable and dedicated services were vitally and urgently required for
their Motherland at this crucial juncture.
President Rajapaksa made this call when he addressed a mammoth rally
in Anuradhapura, the first in a series of rallies, in support of the
UPFA candidates contesting the Sabaragamuwa and North Central Provincial
Council (PC) elections on August 23.
He asserted that at a time the Armed Forces were marching
victoriously in their battle against terrorism and the LTTE breathing
their last, it was destined to confront a definite ‘Waterloo’ very soon.
He said if they evaded and failed to report for their duties, they
may be Court Martialled.
President Rajapaksa lauded the great zeal and enthusiasm displayed by
the disabled ‘war heroes’ in the Anuradhapura hospital, whom he had
visited them that day.
“These ‘war heroes’ who were badly disabled were too willing to get
back to the battlefront again, if they were discharged from the
hospital. They were determined to fight the terrorists, tooth and nail,
and capture Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu,” he said.
Roads, schools and other mega development projects such as the
Norochcholai, Kothmale and Kerawalapitiya power projects and the
Moragahakanda irrigation project among others, would be taken forward
expeditiously. The spree of victories achieved by the Government would
be further augmented by a definite and a landslide victory at the
forthcoming PC elections of Sabaragamuwa and North Central on August 23.
“This would undoubtedly consolidate our Government, the Armed Forces
and the people,” he added.
The President noted that the farmer obtained a reasonable and high
price for his paddy, and thereby given his due place. Nevertheless, he
pointed out that when the farmer is benefited in this manner, obviously
the consumer would experience a problem.
“So, there should be a ‘balancing act’, where both the farmer and the
consumer is protected. We will ensure that both parties’ interests are
taken into consideration”, he added.
Refuting claims as reported in certain quarters of the media, that
the President would also resort to a referendum, the President
categorically ruled it out.
“I will never ever resort to ‘Kalageddi Sellama’ practice. I will
hold the PC elections, followed by the Parliamentary elections. I will
win that too. Everything is in the hands of the people whom we
represent,” he said.
He added that the masses of ‘Raja rata’ had immense faith and trusted
the UPFA government, and beyond any possible doubt, they would elect
Berty Premalal Dissanayake as the Chief Minister of the North Central
P.C.
Ministers Maithripala Sirisena, Dew Gunasekera, Susil Premajayanth,
D.M. Jayarathna, Mervyn Silva, Najib A, Majid and R.M. Podiappuhamy,
Somaweera Chandrasiri, W. P. Ekanayake, ex UNP stalwart Asoka
Wadigamagawa, JVP Parliamentarian Lal Kantha’s former Private Secretary
Shean Padmakumara also addressed the rally.
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