Let us march together towards peace - President

Uditha Kumarasinghe Irangika Range and Sandasen Marasinghe

Kotte: Cheers and applause greeted President Mahinda Rajapaksa when he arrived in the Chamber to present the fourth Budget of his Government.

President Rajapaksa commenced the budget speech at 1.00 p.m and concluded his nearly two hours and ten minutes budget speech around 3.45 p.m. introducing a wide range of proposals for the benefit of the public. A significant feature was that the President in his budget speech addressed the House in Tamil on two occasions, showing his utmost commitment to the Tamil community and to bring sustainable peace.

In a message to the civilians in Wanni, the President said they would soon be freed by the heroic Security Forces in the name of humanity.

In a departure from tradition, the President stopped the budget speech around 2.00 p.m., inviting both Government and Opposition members for tea. The President recommenced the budget speech at 2.30 p.m.

When President Rajapaksa came to Parliament to deliver the budget speech, TNA Parliamentary Group Leader R. Sampanthan making a statement said as a mark of strong protest against the ongoing war they would boycott the budget speech. The TNA then walked out of the House.

The President in a very jubilant mood started the budget speech by thanking all the Members who were in the Chamber.

He stressed the importance of liberating the innocent people in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu from the clutches of LTTE terrorism and improving their livelihoods. He emphasised that the time has come to rebuild the North which was an oasis for terrorists for over 30 years. “I extend my hands of cooperation to you and your children with sincere love and affection without being confined to narrow boundaries of ethnic and religious differences,” he said.

The President winding up his speech said: “My dream is for an independent nation. A land filled with greenery. A prosperous tomorrow and a virtuous mankind. I am aware of all the expectations of Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims, Malays and Burgers being children of Mother Lanka. These expectations can be made a reality. I possess that confidence and I will certainly fulfil that. Let us love challenges. Let us march together towards a better future for Mother Lanka.”