No problem of winning PC poll

M.A.R. Manukulasooriya Hiriyala Group correspondent

This Provincial Council election can be considered as a national and international referendum. The Government would work this year on the foundation already laid in 2008 to rid the country of terrorism and bring peace in the new year, said Nimal Siripala de Silva, Minister of Healthcare and Nutrition.

The Minister was addressing an election Jana Hamuwa held at Digana in support three candidates contesting the Provincial Council election.

The candidates are Ananda Chandralal, Bandara Rajapakse and Nimal Karunathilaka.

The Minister said that hundreds of development projects had been implemented in the Kurunegala district during the past two years.

Therefore, there is no problem of winning. The most intelligent group of UNPers have already joined the Government.

The President Mahinda Rajapaksa has taken every possible step to eradicate terrorism from the country. We have been engaging in this destructive conflict for the last three decades.

Our war heroes will liberate the whole North before long. We are indebted to our war heroes who sacrifice their lives on behalf of their motherland. Though massive sums of money are being spent on the current war effort in the North, the Government has not abandoned any development programme as a result.

Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, Minister of Finance and State Revenue said that the UNP leadership was not close to the aspirations of the people. They have no solution to the burning problems of the country. Under the able leadership of the President, our war heroes will bring peace to the whole nation before long.

When peace is restored, the Government can use the vast sum of money spent for the war towards the development of infrastructure facilities of the country.

Then the entire nation will be able to enjoy the benefits from development. The JVPers have become helpless without slogans today. The year 2009 will be a decisive year,” he added.

Berty Premalal Dissanayake, Chief Minister (NCP) said that the President would be in power for a period of another nine years. There is no point of talking about the UNP and the JVP. They can never win the elections,” he added.

T.B. Ekanayake, Minister of Highways said that three candidates who knew the people’s pulse well, were contesting the election. I am sure they will win with massive majorities.

S.B. Navinna, Minister of Rural Industries and Self Employment Promotion, H.B. Abeyratne, former UNP Provincial Councillor and the candidates Ananda Chandralal and Nimal Karunathilaka also spoke.