People are fully behind Government:

I have delivered – President

*Did not cave into international pressure

*Exploded all the myths

*Some tried to block economic aid

President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing scholars and the business community in the Kurunegala District on Saturday said he had fulfilled the pledge given to the people to free the country from terrorism.

“There was a time when we had to retreat due to international pressure.

“Our then political leaders failed to comprehend the issues properly and precipitated matters which resulted in bomb explosions and assassination of political leaders in the past. We have now liberated the country from this scourge of terrorism,” the President said.

“Foreign leaders and their representatives spoke to us. While negotiating with them, we carried forward our mission. Meanwhile, the people were fully behind us in all these exercises.

“Certain leaders said we couldn’t develop the country while there is a war.

“They also said we couldn’t provide jobs. We changed all these myths by launching several development projects in the fields of power generation and road development in the country,” President Rajapaksa said.

“We also provided subsidies to farmers and relief packages to other people. During the recent global recession, we successfully faced all the economic challenges affecting the country.

“We protected the banking sector including the Seylan Bank which was threatened with bankruptcy.”

“During the period of the oil crisis, our foreign friends helped us with interest free loans to purchase of stock of oil,” the President said.

“Meanwhile, some people tried to stop loan grants to Sri Lanka from the IMF and other foreign banks. However, we were successful in getting these loans in the end. The people haven’t forgotten the services we have rendered to the country,” the President said.

“I have a political experience spanning 40 years which include my participation in the Pada Yathras and Jana Goshas etc.”

“At all times, we must give assistance to local entrepreneurs and industrialists. We don’t need to encourage import based business activities.”

“You all can team up and embark on joint business and industrial activities. Then you can make a great contribution to the future development of the country. We always work with the interests of the country and future generations at heart.

We have also put an end to alcohol use and ensured a good future for our youth. Our motive is not income generation alone, but to breed good future citizens. While developing the country we also must think of a society which respects the elders in the country.

These developments without an element of discipline in them will be meaningless. Therefore, he also must build a well disciplined society and or generation,” the President said.

“It is also our prime duty to preserve democracy in the country. By defeating LTTE terrorism, we have provided the much needed peaceful environment for the people and especially the Northern people to engage in their business activities.” “At this juncture, all the people should unite in this development drive which will take the country forward.

This includes investment opportunities in the North where a fertile land mass was in disuse during the war.

Ministers Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, S.B. Navinna, Jayaratne Herath, T.B. Ekanayake, Salinda Dissanayake, Johnston Fernando, Indika Bandaranayake, Wayamba Chief Minister Athula Wijesinghe, Parliamentarian Wimal Weerawansa and Governor Tissa Balalle were also present on the occasion.