Massive development in South - President

Massive development is taking place in the South. Youth in the South will benefit from these projects in the future. We launched these road and harbour developments while facing the war in the North, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said.

“Today, our foreign reserves have topped Rs. 4,000 million. This figure is unprecedented in history. We are trying to build a country beneficial to you and your children,” he said.

“Lawyers in the South were always with us and extended their contributions towards our mission with dedication. Your assistance helped us win all these elections,” President Rajapaksa said.

The President made these remarks at a meeting with representatives of Lawyers’ Association of the South at Temple Trees on Saturday. “You came forward to help our supporters when they were faced with numerous problems. Therefore, we, as a party, are very grateful to you all,” President Rajapaksa said.

“We launched a massive war against terrorism after the Presidential Election last time. We did this after all the talks failed for a solution. Then at the end of the war, there were lot of foreign pressure. However, we were able to face all these with your support,” President Rajapaksa said.

“Although the terrorists are defeated, their international connections are very strong. However, we have our own way of looking at these problems. Our motherland is important for all of us here. We should not bring disrepute to the country for political and monetary gains. They as an opposition carry out activities against this country,” the President said.

“They protest against loan facilities granted to Sri Lanka. They campaigned against the country even in Europe. In keeping with the Mahinda Chintana, we are getting loans. However, we won’t bow down to them in getting such loans,” he said. “We were strong in the midst of international recession. Working against the grant of subsidy means working against the people of the country. This in turn affected the country,” the President said.

“During the last Presidential Election, all bank employees were present here and aired their grievances. We have a right to talk to these bank employees, because we participated at their protest campaigns launched to protect the banks in Sri Lanka. We joined hands while being members of the then Cabinet,” President Rajapaksa said. “Because you fought against bank privatisation, we have these banks today. We protected these banks in the midst of global economic recession,” he said.

“Our economy is strong and are matching forward on a correct path. We finished a dreaded war.

When we launched the humanitarian operations, we faced opposition not only from foreign countries, but from within the country.

They signed a peace agreement which gave parts of the North and East to Prabhakaran. The former British Prime Minister told me that our biggest mistake was giving an area in writing under the Peace Agreement. Nearly 26,000 youth sacrificed their lives to librate this country,” he said.

The displaced brought millions of money when they came back to our areas. Because of our honest soldiers, they were able to bring such money. we had so much of humanity in the midst such a massive war,” President Rajapaksa said.

“Our people are not ready to betray the war heroes. So you have a message to deliver to the entire world.

This first step will be from the South. The percentage of votes to be polled here will send that most important message, that we are not ready to heed them.

“Some conspirators in the country are also trying bring those who gave leadership to the humanitarian war before the international gallows.”