President in address to Peoples’ Friendship
University of Russia:
Lanka will contribute to world peace
*We are for peace, progress and
development
*Economy stronger despite global
recession
*Lanka a favourite with foreign
investors
For over three decades the very existence of our nation and the peace
and prosperity of our people were threatened by the LTTE menace
described as one of the deadliest terrorist organizations. When they
adamantly rejected our sincere efforts for negotiation we had to use
military means to defeat them and launch a humanitarian operation with
absolute care to rescue the civilian population held hostage by the
terrorists for decades, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Saturday.
President Rajapaksa made this observation in his address to the
Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia after receiving his Doctorate
Honoris Causa for world peace.
President Rajapaksa said that the citation spelled out that the
conferment was due to our contribution to world peace and said that it
was with a sense of humility that he accepts the most prestigious award
of the “Doctorate Honoris Causa” of the Peoples’ Friendship University
of Russia. He also said that he did so because the accomplishments
mentioned in the citation was not made for his individual effort but
from the efforts of the people of Sri Lanka.
“Although we were concentrating on defeating terrorism, we did not
forget the welfare of the people and infrastructure development”
President Rajapaksa said.
The President further stated that during the last four years he had
been able to take the country to unknown heights in development.
Despite the global recession the economy of Sri Lanka had become
stronger and there had been unprecedented progress in every sector of
the social and cultural life of the nation.
The President referring to the current situation of the country said
that the business confidence levels of the country were high and future
needs in energy, human resources and banking have already been planned
for.
The poverty levels of the country were dropping sharply. “Our
international recognition is presently that of a middle income emerging
market nation. These conditions make Sri Lanka an obvious favourite of
investors from all over the world,” President Rajapaksa said.
The President said he stood before them having been pronounced the
sixth Executive President of Sri Lanka only a few days ago at an
election held nationwide on a free and fair basis. The voters through
graciously conferring on him a share of almost 58% of the total votes
cast, made their desire for peace, democracy and progress known in a
very clear and forthright manner, although the campaign launched by the
opposition was a vicious one.
While congratulating the Peoples’ Friendship University on its
Fiftieth Anniversary, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said this university
is dedicated to the noble ideal of “uniting people of different
nationalities, races and religions through knowledge”.
Patrice Lumumba, whose life inspired the founding of this university
made it a point to stress that “we retain the right to be friends with
whoever we like in accordance with the spirit of political neutrality”.
“This is very much the spirit in which I propose to address myself to
the massive challenges that confront me in the years ahead”, the
President said. |