Vote UPFA and support Govt’s progressive policies - Media Minister

A time has arisen to forsake the personal problems or disputes among families in the village owing to trifling matters, hatred and jealousies with each other and unite as one, hand in hand, with the common objective to strengthen the hands of President Mahinda Rajapaksa to crush and decimate terrorism and bring eternal peace and harmony among all ethnicity and religious groups, said Minister of Media Lakshman Yapa Abeywardane at a meeting held at Warakapola Town Hall recently.

This meeting was arranged to apprise the voters of the Dedigama constituency of the prevailing political atmosphere in the country.

The meeting was organised by the Chief Organiser of Dedigama electorate Athauda Seneviratne Minister of Manpower and Labour. Some staunch and ardent supporters of the UNP since the days of late Dudley Senanayake joined the SLFP obtaining membership of the party.

Minister Yapa Abeywardane thanked all who were present at the occasion and said that you all struggled to make Mahinda Rajapaksa the President of this country at a very decisive period to solve the burning problem of terrorism.

He said President Mahinda Rajapaksa with the assumption of reigns of Government took steps first and foremost to solve the terrorist issue while taking vast strides to develop the country in all aspects of agriculture, irrigation, infrastructure, industry, education and so on.

The Media Minister said at this time the JVP was making an effort to make the government a prisoner of the JVP and when the UNP announced that it was going to topple the government, a progressive section of the UNP joined the government and extended their wholehearted support and co-operation for the people friendly steps launched by President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his determination to crush the LTTE terrorism through war if they (terrorists) do not agree for peace talks on laying down their weapons.

He said President Rajapaksa was so hurt by the slaughter of innocent civilians by the terrorist groups. He was so sad for the assassinations of President Premadasa, Gamini Dissanayake and many other leaders of the people including the leaders of the Tamil and Muslim communities.

The Media Minister said therefore President Rajapaksa was constrained to declare a humanitarian conflict against the most cruel set of terrorists, the LTTE and annihilate them in the interest of peace and all communities to create a united Sri Lanka and homeland for all peace loving communities. The conflict will be over in a couple of months or so.

He said the Northern portion of the country will be redeemed soon and usher the country in a peaceful and a development era bringing peace and prosperity under President Rajapaksa to all ethnicity.

Minister Yapa Abeywardane said the cost of fertiliser has skyrocketed in the world market at a price of Rs. 6,500 - Rs. 7,500 today and at a time like this the government is providing fertiliser to the cultivators at a low subsidised rate of Rs. 350 a hundred weight.

He said that nobody patriotic could forget the fact how the terrorists closed the Mavil Aru anicut and stopped the farmers getting water to their cultivations. Our President could not bear up to see the withering and dying paddy lands, the food of the masses.

The Minister said this forced the President to resort to the conflict.

The gates of Mavil Aru were opened and not stopping at that the battle against terrorism was declared and contained and the Eastern Province was completely liberated. The Government is spending billions of Rupees today and developing that area.

He said likewise the Northern Province too in a few months time will be liberated and for this task the President’s hands should be strengthened.

The Minister said therefore, it is left to all the patriotic voters to vote for the United People’s Freedom Alliance in Kegalle district to make Sabaragamuwa PC an ally of the Government to go ahead with the progressive policies the President Mahinda Rajapaksa has initiated.

Minister of Manpower and Labour Athauda Seneviratne said the LTTE challenge was so forceful once, but today the power of the LTTE has curbed so much and that very soon the Government forces will bring the LTTE on their knees for their own destruction and perish.