President says:
I will never merge North and East
Chaminda Perera
*Opposition singing different tune in North
*Will never give false promises
President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday stressed that he would never
merge the North and the East under his administration. He said certain
elements in the Opposition are changing its tune when they go to the
North with the sole objective of winning the election.
The President was speaking at a meeting with handicraftsmen,
representatives of National Poets Association and Dhamma school teachers
at Temple Trees yesterday.
He added that certain elements in the Opposition promised the people
in Jaffna that North and the East will be merged under their
administration and sought their support to win the election.
The President said the Opposition is engaged in a kind of politics
based on false promises.
He stressed that he can not give false promises because of an
election. The President added that he is committed to rebuild the
country while promoting its unity and territorial integrity. He said the
Government will soon implement a program under which over 200,000 youth
can obtain foreign employments.
He said the Government has successfully negotiated with several
countries over this matter.
President Rajapaksa said the country will be brought under a massive
development drive and request the people of all communities to join
hands with the Government to make this endevour a success.
He said the all main roads in the country were developed while a war
on terrorism was going on and the Government did not deter any
development activity because of the war.
He said the poets played a pivotal role in the country’s freedom
struggle and they were the driving force behind the revival of people
during the second freedom struggle too.
The President added that the Government has focused special attention
on the development of the handicraft industry in Sri Lanka. “We have
opened new marketing avenues for the involved in the handicraft industry
by reorganizing Laksala,” he said.
The President said the Government is prepared to extend assistance to
the people who are involved in the handicraft industry .
“We should look after the handicraftsmen well in the latter stage of
their life and a program to ensure their welfare is in the offing,” he
said.
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