Development, terrorism eradication key to UPFA victory - Keheliya

Mohammed Naalir

The expedited development projects and moves to eradicate terrorism resulted in Saturday's victory at the North Central and Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council elections with a comfortable majority, Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said yesterday.

He said the war will continue until all LTTE cadres are destroyed and terrorism is eradicated.

Rambukwella addressing the media at his official residence yesterday, said the public must think of the sacrifices of the Armed Forces to protect us and the country from the LTTE.

"A massive propaganda campaign was carried out by former UNP rulers that the Black Tigers were a giant force in the region. Our soldiers have totally ruled out that opinion and they have achieved a victory against the LTTE."

President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Government has got the blessings of Prelates and all ethnic communities to uproot terrorism, he said. The Minister said the United National Party led by Ranil Wickremesinghe recorded a loss for the consecutive 18th time. The UNP lost its polling divisions which it won in 2005.

The UPFA won all seats in Sabaragamuwa and North Central Provinces. The development activities in the provinces were the main cause for the victory, Rambukwella added.

JVP Parliamentarian Lal Kantha raised his voice as the representative of the working class but he was also defeated in the election, the Minister said.

More than 75 per cent who participated in the strikes organised by the UNP and the JVP have cast their votes for the Government.

There was an opinion that trade union activities will hamper the activities of the Government but the Government proved it as a mere illusion. By voting for the UPFA, the public have taught them a good lesson, the Minister said.