Work to ensure country's future well being - President

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday urged all patriotic citizens to shelve petty vituperative politics and join hands with the Government to ensure the country's future well being.

The President made this request when he addressed a group of over 4,000 UNPers from the Badulla district who crossed over to the UPFA at a meeting held at President's House, Kandy.

The group included several UNP local council members and candidates contesting the Uva Provincial Council elections on the UNP ticket.

The President who said that they were able to liberate the country from terrorism due to the courageous dedication of people who placed the country before self added that the Government continued the development effort concurrently with the humanitarian operations because it was truly concerned about the future welfare of the country and its people.

Economic benefits of development denied to the country for 30 years were now slowly accruing to the country and its people. The Government launched gigantic schemes like Upper Kotmale and Norochcholai because it was able to discern the needs and requirements of the people properly. He and his Government was able to handle the economy properly even during complex situations defeating the prophecies of doom made by slavish economic pundits and the machinations of racketeers because they had the confidence of the public who firmly stood behind them.

The President who noted that development would be automatically accelerated with the return of peace said that the people of Uva have now received the opportunity to endorse the Government's policies and programs and teach a good lesson to all detractors including bankrupt politicians.

Ministers Nimal Siripala de Silva, Keheliya Rambukwella, C.B. Ratnayake, Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, Prof. G.L. Peiris and Dilan Perera and the Governor of Uva Province Nanda Mathew were also present on the occasion.