A vote for UPFA, vote for terrorism eradication - President
Rohan MATHES
All patriotic and peace-loving citizens of the Western Province
should use their franchise to display and signify to the world that all
communities fully approve and endorse the measures to annihilate
terrorism from the motherland, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said.
Addressing a ceremony to welcome over 5,000 former UNPers of the
Kalutara district to the SLFP, on the invitation of Minister Rajitha
Senarathna, President Rajapaksa pointed out that following landslide
victories in the East, North Western and Central Province in the recent
past, his Government was now offering an opportunity to the people of
the Western Province to express their will and firm resolve and
commitment to wipe out terrorism from this land.
“The whole world is now watching us closely. They are seeking whether
the verdict of all communities in the Western Province, irrespective of
whether they are Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim or Burgher, are expressing their
solidarity in one voice, with the Government. You are obliged to confirm
that beyond any possible doubt, we are right, President Rajapaksa said.
He pointed out that already over 95,000 innocent Tamil civilians have
crossed over to Government territory, and there are others to come.
He said, however, that they should exercise care as Prabhakaran has
placed land mines on the way, to disrupt the mass exodus.
Renewing his call for Velupillai Prabhakaran and his terrorist cadres
to surrender to the Armed Forces, and thereby save the lives of his
colleagues, without any further delay, he said as a nation which upholds
a Buddhist civilisation for over 5000 odd years, and human values, they
will be ever willing to forgive their past, rehabilitate them like what
had been done to Karuna Amman and Pillayan, who are now Ministers in the
Government.
The President said this was not the time for debate, but the time to
secure our country. To
“We will debate as much as we want, after saving our country,” he
added.
Stating that he preferred work and action instead of debate and talk,
President Rajapaksa told the gathering that if they were solely
debating, then the massive development projects such as the concreted
roads, the agro and irrigation projects, Kerawalapitiya and Norochcholai
power stations the simultaneous construction of five harbours and the
like would not have been a reality.
Despite the loss of revenue to the Government by the successful
launch of the Mathata Thitha and the like, the Government has inculcated
good human and moral values in the society, he said.
Ministers Rajitha Senarathna, Maithripala Sirisena and Hemakumara
Nanayakkara also spoke. |