Govt not prepared to reverse ongoing operations
Chaminda Perera and Dhanushaka Godakumbura
The Government is not prepared in any way to reverse the ongoing
action against terrorists till they disarm themselves, said President
Mahinda Rajapaksa in Kurunegala on Saturday.
The President was addressing a rally at the Maligapitiya grounds in
Kurunegala in support of UPFA candidates contesting the February 14
North Western Provincial Council election.
President Rajapaksa said the Government has fulfilled the mandate
given by the people to create a unitary state at the last Presidential
election within three years and demanded that the LTTE should surrender
to the Forces without risking the lives of innocent Tamil civilians.
“Former Prime Minister Sirima Bandaranaike in 1997 entrusted a
unitary state to the care of then President J.R. Jayewardene. But the
country which I took over in 2005 was divided and one third of its
territory was not controlled by the State,” the President said.
President Rajapaksa said welfare and relief measures enjoyed by the
people were not curtailed in the name of the Government’s effort to
safeguard the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“Fertilizer subsidy to farmers, free education and free health care
facilities have been ensured to all citizens alike though a humanitarian
operation is on against the terrorists,” he said.
“The Kurunegala district comprises a large number of service
personnel representing the three Armed Forces and the police. The
parents who dedicate their off springs for the country’s security should
deserve public admiration and respect,” he said.
“The people through their mandate at the 2005 Presidential Election
urged me to save the country from terrorists.
They had no other demands. The terrorists are in a futile attempt to
hide in areas allocated for the civilians.
The Government has been able to confine the LTTE terrorists to a
small land area.
The Forces are zeroing on the last pockets of LTTE resistance in the
North,” he said. The President said unemployment has drastically come
down and dividends of development have been brought to the villages.
The Government launched mega development programs such as the Upper
Kotmale, Moragahakanda, Deduru Oya irrigation schemes and Norochcholai
thermal power project in the North Western and Central Provinces.
He said over 10,000 UNPers met him and assured their support for the
UPFA at the forthcoming PC election as a mark of gratitude to the
Government which is engaged in a mission against the terrorists.
“They said Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe betrayed the
country by signing a pact with the LTTE in 2002 and reiterated their
commitment to ensure the Government’s victory at the PC election,” the
President said.
The entire world is eyeing this Provincial Council election which
determines whether the Government’s decision to combat terrorism is
accepted by the people or not.
President Rajapaksa said people’s support is essential to bring
development to the country by ensuring a corruption free and people-
friendly public service. |