Inauguration of second International Airport:

I will not shy away from challenges - President

Rasika SOMARATHNA

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday asserted that he would never hesitate to front up to challenges or take any decisions which would ultimately benefit the people and the country.

He said that such an attitude had paved the way in realizing another challenging promise in the Mahinda Chinthana for a second fully fledged international Airport for the country.

He was speaking after inaugurating the construction of Sri Lanka’s second international airport in Mattala, Hambantota.

President Rajapaksa also lamented that regimes since independence had lacked the courage to take such bold decisions and this had ultimately hurt the country and its people.

The President pointed out that Sri Lanka’s location as a transhipment hub was not fully utilized as previous regimes had failed to construct necessary sea and air ports.

“But now in addition to the Airports, five harbours too are coming up simultaneously.”

“Now we have to rectify these mistakes and we are taking necessary steps to do so,” he added.

The President added that his regime was not prepared to engage in politics harping on the past misdeeds but was prepared to look ahead with a positive outlook.

“We have prepared our plans for the present as well as to suit the country’s needs 30-40 years ahead,” he added.

He also said that one should not think it demeaning act to reverse decisions if it was subsequently found to be incorrect. “When we found that the land in the original proposal to construct the airport in Weeravila were fertile paddy fields, we changed the location.”

As such we would also never hesitate to take decisions or revise them if necessary for the benefit of the people.

“It is not the location that matters but the deed,” he said adding that benefits of such development projects would reach the length and breadth of the country and would supplement the national economy.

He said that development would not be confined to one province but would have equal distribution including the North and East which had been lagging in this aspect during the past 30 years.

The President also pointed out that friendly nations had always stood by Sri Lanka and had helped it in its quest to usher viable development.

The President pointed out that bold decisions taken by the Government in the face of heavy international and local opposition too had proven a point in the recent past that this regime was not prepared to bow down in the face of injustice and back decisions which would hurt the country and the people.

He assured the people that he would ensure equal rights, facilities and opportunities to all Sri Lankans citizens irrespective of any differences. He invited like-minded to join in this quest and assure the future generations a bright and prosperous future.

The Chinese Ambassador speaking on behalf of her Government said that as a long-standing friend of Sri Lanka her country was always prepared to back such mega development projects in the future as well.

“A friend in need is a friend in deed,” she said while adding that China was such a friend of Sri Lanka. Ports and Aviation Minister Chamal Rajapaksa, Chairman of Airport and Aviation Authority Prasanna Wickremasuriya, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China Yang Xiuping and Secretary to the Ministry of Ports and Aviation Ranjith De Silva also spoke.

Several Cabinet Ministers, Tri-Forces commanders, the IGP, officials of the Air Port and Aviation Services, Local politicians, the clergy and the public took part.