Shed political conflicts - President

The time has come to shed political conflicts and the battle for ‘Manape’ and make a united effort to rebuild the country, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa when he addressed people who gathered at the Kasagala Raja Maha Vihare during a visit to the temple on Sunday morning.

The President said certain people were trying to rouse communal, religious and caste differences and passions under the guise of the general election and the people should rally round to defeat such lowly objectives.

The President said “You are well aware that we made a bold effort to reunite the country which was divided after liberating the North and East from LTTE terrorists. Unlike during past regimes and eras we not only conducted a humanitarian war in a proper manner but also took steps to develop the country.

“Gone were the days when the war effort was made a lame excuse to hide the government’s incapacity to build a road or culvert when people requested it.”

The President said the Government during the last four years had brought development to the village and taken steps to provide electricity to ensure a better future for the nation by launching gigantic projects like Norochcholai, Upper Kotmale and Kerawalapitiya. The Government was able to launch massive irrigation schemes too because a clear program to ward off a possible food shortage was undertaken through ‘Mahinda Chinthana.’

“Infrastructure facilities should be in place to develop such rural areas. The Government had launched a program to build five large ports concurrently. The Hambantota Port when completed would set an industrial revolution in motion in the country.

“The Government obtained foreign loans to set this development program in motion. No one would have given us such credit if we were not credit worthy.

“The farmers were strengthened by providing fertilizer and other inputs at subsidised prices in order to provide food for the nation. The country was still repaying loans obtained by past regimes to import flour.

“The country today had a sound road network and people’s incomes had increased. The per capita income which was 1,000 US dollars in 2005 had now risen to 2,200 US dollars and the Government aimed to increase it to 4,000 US dollars in the near future.”

The President said economic development alone was insufficient without moral and spiritual development of the people. We ought to build a liquor free society which honoured and respected parents.

“That was why the Government launched the ‘Mathata Thitha’ program notwithstanding the massive loss of revenue.”

The President said ‘our endeavour is to build a future generation which would be an asset to the country.

“I wish to thank you all for giving us the necessary support to strengthen our path to development and progress.”

“We need a strong Parliament to rebuild the country. We do not need a jumbo Cabinet. We only need an efficient group which had the potential to rebuild the country.”

The President who participated in religious observances at the Kasagala Raja Maha Viharaya directed officials to take steps to rehabilitate the ‘Bodhi Maluwa’ and the ‘Bodhi Prakaraya.’

Ministers Chamal Rajapaksa, Prof. G.L. Peiris and Mahinda Amaraweera were also present on the occasion.