High regard for President from Arab world - Envoy

Wijitha NAKKAWITA

When assistance was needed for the internally displaced persons in North, several countries were willing to assist. When the IDPs had to be provided with drinking water the one million drinking water bottles project initiated by President Mahinda Rajapaksa's son was assisted by the Palestinian Ambassador in Italy M. Anver, Sri Lankan Ambassador in Italy Attorney-at-Law Hemantha Warnakulasuriya told the Daily News yesterday.

He said the Arab world has high regard for President Rajapaksa and in international affairs they assisted Sri Lanka though certain opposition parties and NGOs worked to the detriment of the country at a time Sri Lanka was facing the threat of LTTE terrorists.

Warnakulasuriya said now that peace had returned to the country, he had invited Italians to invest in ventures, especially in the North and East where there was tremendous potential for economic development.

"There may be even oil resources and the already identified natural resources like the pearl fishery in Trincomalee and tourism in Arugambay or Nilaweli could bring us rapid development. Potential for agriculture, fishery and tourism development should be done on a 15 -20 year plan and we could once again become a leading nation in this region," the Ambassador said.

He said the UNP and other opposition parties should cooperate with the President and the Government to develop the country.

"As the President had proved, he could achieve what most people thought was an impossible task. It is now time for all parties to get together to unite to build national amity and development," Warnakulasuriya said.