President Mahinda Rajapaksa:

Common man’s choice

M.P. Muttiah

* President wiped out terrorism

* Major development in last four years

* United many political parties

* Opposition alliance wracked by crisis

President Mahinda Rajapaksa had united many political parties of all communities of the country. He is the common candidate of the common man. As such his victory is a foregone conclusion, said Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena speaking to the Press at the Media and Information Ministry yesterday.

Minister Abeywardena said the main challenge the President faced and succeeded was the wiping out of terrorism and he provided the necessary political leadership to accomplish this task. With that achievement the President has set sights on developing the country as a whole. “His goal is to help people to build a sound economy through major development efforts.

His aim is to double production with the ongoing infrastructure development. The country has seen major development during these four years since independence.

During the past four years Rs. 180,000 million has been spent for development projects which would go down in history,” the Minister added.

He further said four ports had been developed simultaneously. Highways and 9,000 kilometres of rural roads would also be developed.

The Minister added that President Mahinda Rajapaksa possessed 40 years of experience in politics and on the economy. The President has the ability to face the challenge of economic development and it was certain that he would succeed, he said.

The Media Minister said that the Government would never use officers of the Security Forces for politics and rejected such allegations.

“To abolish the Executive Presidency a two thirds majority is needed. If any citizen who voted to elect the President goes to courts, a referendum should be held. Therefore, the talk of abolishing the Executive Presidential system within six months was a political ploy to rally round the anti-Presidency forces,” he added. The UNP-JVP alliance is faced with serious internal problems.

Tilwin Silva said that he never said the Prime Minister portfolio of the interim-government should be given to Ranil Wickremesinghe. Therefore, the President would defeat such an alliance which is wrecked by crisis, the Minister said.

Referring to the security provided to General Sarath Fonseka the Media Minister said it was provided as agreed at the discussion with the President. Sarath Fonseka had 70 security personnel, however, it was clear from the letter of Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunge he was given not only 70 but two more at his request.