President foils Prabha’s grand plan - Minister Felix Perera

SHIRLEY WIJESINGHE

It is said that Prabhakaran had a long term plan to change the ethnic balance of Sri Lanka by bringing down 10 million Tamils from Tamil Nadu and settling them here, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Minister Felix Perera said.

Minister Perera added that his political activities continued even in the era of the JVP insurgency in 88/89. He was speaking at the first Provincial Council rally organized by UPFA at the Industrial Estate in Ja-Ela.

The Minister assured that he will not conduct his political campaign in a manner that would bring disrepute to his party or electorate.

Perera said the UNP was responsible for the riots in 1983 and the attacks on Tamils was not launched due to patriotism. He said then President J.R. Jayewardene purposely remained silent on the matter for seven days without ensuring law and order in the country. The Minister said the present ethnic crisis intensified due to procrastination by President Jayewardene.

“More than 98 per cent of the uncleared areas in the North have been cleared by the humanitarian operation successfully launched under the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa,” he said.

He added that all avenues have been shut for the LTTE to reassert its power since it is now confined to a small area.

Perera expressed his confidence of a UPFA victory in the forthcoming Western Provincial Council election and appealed to the public to endorse the President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s correct leadership at the poll.