President challenges accusers:

Prove your allegations

Jayasiri Munasinghe, Bandula Gunasekera and Justin Kodikara reporting from Matara Some powerful countries are trying to tarnish the good name of our Motherland by levelling various accusations and insults alluding that our Security Forces have committed crimes and I would like to challenge these countries to provide us with a comprehensive report to prove the same, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday in Matara.

He was addressing a public rally which was held at Sanath Jayasuriya Sports Ground, Matara . The rally was organized by the group of UPFA contestants who are canvassing for the upcoming Southern Provincial Council election.

The President said, “the Government has been able to liberate the Motherland from Tiger terrorism that ailed the country for the past three decades and brought a new hope of freedom to all its people.”

“There are some elements that are trying to black out those horrible experiences and memories which the people of this country had during the time of terrorism. They are are trying to belittle the importance of our victory over terrorism and forget it so lightly,” the President said.

“ But we are not disheartened by their words and deeds. What is distressing is to see them carrying tales of falsehoods to foreign lands, about things which had not taken place in the country,” he said.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa said, “Some parties are trying to take us to international war crimes tribunals.

“We have to liberate this country from such conspiracies,” he said and added that the upcoming Southern Provincial Election provides the public with an opportunity to relay a good message to the world by ensuring a mandate of over 80 percent so that the world will be convinced.

Ministers Dullas Alahapperuma, Susil Premajayantha, Nimal Siripala De Silva, Dinesh Gunawardena , Champika Ranawaka , D.E.W. Gunasekera, M.S.S.Ameer Ali, Wimal Weerawansa MP, Matara District Group Leader Hemal Gunasekera, and the Matara Mayor Upul Nishantha also addressed the rally.