We have the responsibility of uniting country - President

Though we defeated the terrorist group that killed innocent civilians whether they were passengers travelling in buses, farmers working in the fields, people worshiping the Sri Mahabodhi, Muslims at prayer in the mosque or even Tamil politicians who were in the democratic mainstream, we have the responsibility of uniting the country, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

He was addressing the Galle District Bhikku and youth league branches at Temple Trees on Thursday.

The President said the LTTE also had its groups of supporters like the NGOs and the terrorist group had its own administrative set up and banks too and they were moving towards declaration of a separate state with the assistance of such connivers at home or abroad but we defeated them before they could go far.

“When a UN official was visiting Sri Lanka a certain individual had got an advertisement published in a newspaper on payment that there was a threat to his life.

The advertisement in English was intended to be read by the visiting UN official and I have the list of names of the people who had signed the advertisement who are people living in ivory towers,” he said.

“The Opposition Leader is also making attempts to get sanctions imposed on the country as he was not acting like an opponent of the Government but as a person opposed to the country. We are looking after over two lakhs of internally displaced persons and the Opposition Leader had now begun to have a sudden sympathy for the IDPs and future generations too,” President Rajapaksa said.

“Despite the machinations of certain people now our foreign currency reserves had also become stable and strong and we are now implementing our development programs as our duty to the younger generation.

“Therefore the people of the South should demonstrate to the country and the world that we have fulfilled our duties by giving a resounding victory to the UPFA at the Southern Provincial Council election,” he said.