President's conviction won the battle - Minister

For the past 30 years, separatism and terrorism had been the cause for vast destructions in the country. All attempts taken by successive Governments in the past to resolve the problem have gone utter failure. Sensing the gigantic shape of the problem, President Mahinda Rajapaksa determined to save the country and the people, said Co-operative Development Minister Najeeb Abdul Majeed addressing a meeting in Kinniya.

His personality and efficient leadership paved the way to eradicate the terrorism. The President has liberated the people of the North and East who were under the Iron Grip of Terrorism, the Minister said.

It was only the President who had changed the fear psychosis prevailed among the Ministers and high officials that they would be killed at any moment. He only showed the world that terrorism could be defeated. The cause for this victory was at the expense and sacrifice of the Armed Forces and co-operation of the peace-loving citizens of the country.

In the 2005 Presidential Election, the North-East people were unable to franchise their votes. Two years before his term of office, the President has decided to hold the Presidential Election to get the mandate from all the citizens including the North-East. It is therefore the bounden duty of all the citizens to elect him again as the President.

The President has no bias for caste, race or religion. He is a humanitarian. He was able to resettle the people of Mutur in 40 days. He has accelerated the development in the East and improved the living condition of the people of East by spending millions. Under "Northern Spring" concept, major development measures are being deployed in the North to bring back normalcy and improve the living conditions of the Northern people.

The strategy in conducting the war and at the same time implementing major development works in the North is greatly appreciable, the Minister said.

A person gifted with political wisdom, matured experience in politics, patriotism and humanism is eligible to become the President. The President has such unique qualities, he said.