President tells detractors:

Don’t betray Forces’ victory

Rasika Somarathna and Raja Waidyasekera in Medamulana

Do not betray the victory of the Nation by trying to propagate the heroic Security Forces who liberated the country as war criminals, President Mahinda Rajapaksa told all local detractors yesterday.

The President identified the workings of some local elements backed by certain international elements who were trying to raise concern using false allegations on alleged human rights abuse as a shameful act.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing more than 3,000 UNP and JVP supporters from Tangalle and Mulkirigala who had gathered at Medamulana to pledge support to the UPFA said this minority with vested political interests backed by a few foreign elements were trying to tarnish the country’s image.

These people have no evidence. Their allegations are based on certain media reports and false facts presented by a few locals, he added. The President questioned whether it was a crime to save the country from the clutches of the LTTE and end their 30 year long reign of terror.

“Today the children in the North and the East has taken to books and pens instead of guns,” the President added.

He urged all opposing sides including the UNP to put petty political differences aside and join hands to guide the country towards prosperity, at a time when the country was in an era of development.

He said that everybody had one Motherland and all had to unite to protect it. The country is more important than anything else and as such it should come before everything else, he added. He urged the Southern polity to deliver a strong message to the whole world at the October 10 elections to portray the true pulse of the people.