Farsighted leadership crushed terrorism

Nimal Wijesinghe - Anuradhapura Additional District group correspondent

The war against the LTTE could not have been won without a farsighted and experienced political leadership, Information and Mass Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said.

It has been proved that the LTTE menace was wiped out due to President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s correct leadership, the Minister said.

Minister Abeywardane was delivering the keynote address at a workshop and conference held at the Anuradhapura CTC auditorium. The workshops being conducted at district level are sponsored and organized by the media centre for national security under the Information and Mass Media Ministry.

The Minister said late Presidents J.R. Jayewardene, R. Premadasa and D.B. Wijetunga and former President Chandrika Kumaratunga were armed with same executive powers and strength vested in the hands of present President Rajapaksa.

“But they were unable to eradicate the LTTE from the country. President Rajapaksa accomplished the task within just three and half years of Office. This was the leadership a country needed in the hours of disaster, he said.

“The media is expected to be a mechanism of publicity for the Government. It should pinpoint loopholes, shortcomings opacity and nuisance in the administration in a people-friendly manner. We have rectified and adjusted our defects in response to such criticism by the media. It is the duty of the press to assist the Government in the endeavours and exercises for gaining the economical emancipation in the country,” the Media Minister said.

Nation Building Minister S.M. Chandrasena said the Yan-Oya project was progressing at a cost of Rs. 5,225 million.

He said during the last four years 85 percent of electricity requirements in Horowpothana have been fulfilled.

Indigenous Medicine Minister Tissa Karalliyadda lauded President Rajapaksa for his endeavours to protect develop and preservate indigenous medicine.