Women’s Day:

Healthy condition prevails in country for women - President

The Government has created a healthy condition for women to live with a sense of pride, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said in a Women’s Day message.

The full text:

“I take great pleasure in sending this message on International Women’s Day which is being celebrated for the first time today after the elimination LTTE terrorism which posed a great obstacle to our country’s development.

“This scourge of terrorism was a big hurdle to women’s emancipation, respect, security and above all in empowering them economically.

“The role of mother takes pride of place in family which forms the basis of society.

The unity between mother, father and children fosters love, compassion and peace. This, in turn, strengthens, country’s development.

The drug menace and poverty badly affect women. If we can eradicate the drug menace it would definitely eradicate poverty.

“In this task, women have a vital role to play by weaning their husbands and children addicted to drugs from this menace. This is a big challenge for them.

The same way, our country has also to overcome so many other obstacles.

“I wish this International Women’s Day 2010 a great success.