President tells LTTE:

Lay down arms, surrender

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday renewed his call for the LTTE leadership and remaining cadres to lay down their arms and surrender, even at this late hour.

Addressing over 3,000 former UNP members of the Gampaha district at Temple Trees, who had switched allegiance to the UPFA, the President said that he was endowed with the task of rebuilding Sri Lanka, which had been plagued by terrorism for over three decades.

“I still have a big responsibility on my shoulders of rebuilding the lives, properties and areas which were affected due to terrorism.

So, I once again call on the LTTE leader and remaining cadres to surrender, without destroying any more lives,” the President said. The President on the occasion also stressed that final victory was at hand and the effort undertaken with many lives at stake was to ensure the well being of the future generation.

He also asserted that he would not bow down to international pressure, as he had the backing of the people of this country.

“Even if the whole world goes against me I would not shy away from the challenges ahead, as long as the Sri Lankan people support these endeavous” he added. The President also added that all people who were supporting the Government and rally around the UPFA at this juncture, had taken the correct path putting aside petty rivalries for the greater good of the nation.