President won’t bow down to pressure

*Appeals for strong verdict on October 10 :

*Four mega port projects in progress:

Rasika SOMARATHNA and Raja WAIDYASEKERA in Suriyawewa, Hambantota

President Mahinda Rajapaksa while noting that Sri Lanka’s friendly ties with the international community was strong as ever and would always work towards strengthening existing relations asserted that, however he was not prepared to betray the country’s honour and bow down to unreasonable conditions or pressure exerted by outside forces.

Addressing the UPFA’s final election campaign rally in support of contenders for the Southern Provincial Council in Muwanpelassa grounds in Suriyawewa yesterday the President said “although we have strong and friendly relationships with other nations we are not ready to bow down in front of injustice and unreasonable conditions. We would never betray the honour of our Motherland. It comes before everything else.” Addressing a record crowd of more than 100,000 who had filled every inch of the ground and the immediate vicinity he urged the masses to put petty differences aside and join hands to propel the country towards lasting peace and prosperity.

However, it is unfortunate to note that some of our own countrymen who are in search of personal glory at the expense of the Motherland being engaged in a malicious campaign to discredit the Government and the war heroes in order to achieve their selfish objectives, he noted. The President said that the people of the South would react accordingly and give a strong verdict at the October 10 polls to all detractors both local and international. He also noted that although the USD 150 million contribution of the GSP+ concessions was vital to the country’s economy, the Government will not succumb to unwarranted conditions to get it.

He added that even while engaged in conflict the government had not neglected the development of the country, but had started mega development projects of ports, roads and other infrastructure.

Thousands of kilometres of main roads, byroads, inter provincial roads and rural roads have been developed. Major expressways are in progress or near completion and several power plants at Kerawalapitiya, Norochcholai, Upper Kotmale, Uma Oya and Trincomalee have been launched, the President highlighted.

Also the Government took steps to strengthen the state sector which the then UNP Government planned to cut down to 600,000. Now it has gone beyond 1.2 million, he added.

The President also noted that vast strides had being made in the fields of health, education, agriculture etc. in line with the ‘Mahinda Chinthana’ policy framework.

He assured that the Government would not allow the hard work put in to develop all sectors to go to waste but would be channelled properly to ensure that future generations enjoy a better life.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa also noted that the UPFA had been on a winning streak in all PC polls before and after terrorism had been defeated with increasing majorities at every turn.

While adding that this was the final PC polls in that line the President said that however it was conducted at a crucial time where a section of the international community backed by a few locals with vested interests were conspiring to tarnish the image of the country and its war heroes using false and malicious allegations.

The President requested the people of Southern Province to give a proper reply to the people who make wrong allegations against the country and its Security Forces who defeated the dreaded terrorism which prevailed for 30 years.

During the meeting UNP strongman and renowned entrepreneur Samson Silva got on the stage to show his solidarity with the President and the Government.

Ministers Maithripala Sirisena, Nimal Siripala de Silva, Dinesh Gunawardena, Chamal Rajapaksa, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Sumeda G. Jayasena, C.B. Ratnayake, Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Champika Ranawaka, Mahinda Amaraweera, G.L. Peiris, Felix Perera, Rohitha Abeygunewardene, Governor Alavi Mowlana, Chief Minister Mahipala Herath and Parliamentarian Wimal Weerawansa were also present at the rally.