President heeds people’s wishes

Local entrepreneurs will be protected even without GSP+

Rasika Somarathna and Raja Waidyasekera - Tissamaharama Special Correspondent in Medamulana

President Mahinda Rajapaksa told in no uncertain terms, that the country’s internal affairs would be run in a manner that honours peoples aspirations and not in accordance with the requests of outside forces.

The President said that he would never betray the country and the faith and confidence the people had placed on him and would take all decisions in alignment with their wishes. He said that the Government led by him would take the responsibility in leading the country and would not pass it to others.

Referring to the plight of the displaced people in the North and East the President said that he could not resettle them just for the sake of doing it to please certain sections but would enact the process after equipping the relevant areas with the necessary facilities.

While adding that the Government had already spent more than Rs two billion for the resettlement drive the President asserted that the IDPs would not be allowed to be made scapegoats to propagate the whims and fancies of certain sections which were trying to take undue advantage of the issue.

Even if facilities such as GSP+ is denied to us we would never let the relevant local entrepreneurs or industries down but would carry them forward obtaining necessary funds from other sources, he added. He also said that the Government would never bow down to conditions detrimental to the wishes of people in order to get financial or other support from outside.

The President made these observations at two different meetings, addressing a cross section of Government officials and members of the Tamil and Muslim communities of the Hambantota and Matara districts at his ancestral village in Medamulana on Saturday.

The President continuing his address added that the Peace which was won through a lot of sacrifice would not be allowed to be backtracked at any cost.

He said that despite certain allegations internationally and locally the Government remained committed in ensuring the rights of all people, irrespective of their ethnicities, religions or where they live.

However, some outside powers which did not say a word when a human catastrophe was unfolding in the north/east and the rest of the country due to LTTE atrocities today is voicing concern citing human rights issues and resettlement of IDPs to put pressure on Sri Lanka and paint a false picture to the world, he added.

The President pointed out that the LTTE during their reign of terror up to 30 years had chased away Muslim and Sinhala communities in the North and East from their places of origin. They had also killed scores of moderate Tamil politicians starting from Alfred Dureiappah and meted out the same treatment to civilians as well.

In addition scores of Sinhala political leaders and innocent villagers were killed and the damage to property was enormous. Also they controlled 1/3 of the country and 2/3 of the coastline denying its rich resources to the rest of the country, he added.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa questioned why some international elements backed by a few locals who kept their mouths shut during the LTTE reign of terror were now levelling allegations at a time when that fear sychosis had ended and everybody was enjoying freedom after a lapse of 30 long years.

The President urged the people of the South to deliver a strong message against these detractors on October 10 and show the whole world what the masses think about the whole process.

The events were also attended by Ministers Bandula Gunewardene, G.L.Peiris, Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena, A.H.M.Fowzie, Maithripala Sirisena, Nimal Siripala De Silva, Chamal Rajapaksa, M.H.Mohammed, Vadivel Suresh, Lionel Premasiri, Rohitha Abeygunewardene, Nirupama Rajapaksa MP, Chief Minister Berty Premalal Dissanayake, Presidential Advisor, M.H.M.Azwer and other political leaders of the area.