President tells Sri Lankans in Nepal:

Return to country to foster nation building

President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Thursday requested all Sri Lankans abroad to return to the motherland and contribute towards the nation building effort.

The President made this appeal when he addressed the Sri Lankan community in Kathmandu, Nepal. A large number of Sri Lankan businessmen, professionals and university students attended the meeting.

The President who is on a two-day official visit to Nepal said Sri Lanka has been fully liberated from LTTE terrorism which dogged the country’s development for nearly three decades.

The country has been united under a single banner and people of all communities and religions could now live in peace and amity and work for the progress of the country.

He recalled that when he visited Nepal last, a humanitarian war to liberate the country was in progress in the North. This time he was visiting Nepal and meeting the Sri Lankan community as a leader who liberated the country from terrorism.

“My next objective is to steer the country towards development and progress. I need the support and contribution of all Sri Lankans including those residing abroad to achieve this objective. It is time for all Sri Lankans to rally round and contribute their knowledge, skills and labour towards achieving this objective for the motherland, the President said.

A massive development effort was taking place in the North and East through the Uthuru Vasanthaya and the Negenahira Navodaya programs and resettlement of displaced persons was taking place at an accelerated pace. Northern children who carried arms earlier were now able to revive their dashed hopes by attending schools carrying school bags instead.

Ministers Rohitha Bogollagama, Nimal Siripala de Silva, Tissa Karaliyadda and Mervyn Silva, Additional Secretary to the President Gamini Senarath, Presidential Co-ordinator on Foreign Affairs Sajin Vaas Gunawardena and Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in Nepal Thosapala Hewage were also present.

The President was due to open the Sri Lanka Maha Viharaya at Lumbini, Nepal yesterday afternoon.