Country erupts in joy as President addresses House

Lakshmi de Silva

President Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived at the Parliamentary Complex, Kotte to declare the fourth session of Parliament open and was received on arrival by Speaker W.J.M.Lokubandara, Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka, Chief Government Whip Dinesh Gunawardena, Deputy Speaker Priyankara Jayaratne and Parliament Secretary General Dhammika Kitulgoda.

The President was accompanied by First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa. Students of Janadhipathi Balika Vidyalaya, Nawala sang Jayamangala Gatha as the President arrived at the Parliamentary Complex.

President Rajapaksa was conducted to the House by the Speaker and as he entered the Chamber there was loud applause from Government benches with Parliamentarians waving national flags. The proclamation of the President opening the new session of Parliament was read out by Parliament Secretary General Dhammika Kitulgoda.

The President started his address on a solemn note declaring that the territory under terrorist control had been liberated by the Armed Forces and the country was enjoying the victory of the Armed Forces.

When the President addressed Parliament at 9.40 a.m., the whole country, Colombo city, suburbs and villages reverberated with thousands of fire crackers lit in the gardens, roads and junctions and people came out to the streets in their hundreds carrying kevun, kiribath and sweetmeats to treat all the passers by with such joy, that it was a fiesta never seen in the country for several years.

Some senior citizens said such joy was seen, though on a smaller scale when the country regained independence from the British in 1948.

All vehicles, even bicycles and motorcycles flew the national flag while homes and streets, shops and all buildings also flew the national flag. Schoolchildren came out of school flying the national flag and distributing kiribath and sweetmeats in the schools.

The spontaneous joy of the people was seen everywhere and even the staid faced Policemen and members of the Armed Forces who were on security duty on the streets and important places, were seen adorning their faces with smiles.