President for unique development model

Rasika Somarathna

Sri Lanka should have its own unique model of development based on its strengths and resources, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing a massive public rally at Kirillawela, Mahara yesterday held in support of Gampaha district UPFA candidates contesting the Parliamentary polls.

“We successfully defeated the scourge of terrorism. Now it is our responsibility to develop the country, President Rajapaksa told the large gathering who even braved intermittent rains for a long period to hear their leader speak.

The President noted that the Government’s efforts to achieve equity in development had paid rich dividends so far. The national economy no longer depends on the Colombo district as its biggest contributor but has spread its wings to encompass other areas as well. As a result the contribution of the Colombo district in this regard has come down from 52 percent to 48 percent today, he added.

President Rajapaksa commenting on the country’s current economic trends said even during the conflict the economy grew with mega development taking place including five harbours, an airport, new roads, irrigation schemes, power generation plants etc.

He also added that Sri Lanka was looking at new world trends and innovative means to strengthen its economy such as nuclear generated power for cheaper consumption.

Speaking of the development taking place in the North and East the President said that he had appointed his own brother and Senior Advisor to the President Basil Rajapaksa to spearhead the task with the hope of achieving accelerated and sustainable development in the region which bore the brunt of the conflict.

The results achieved so far in this regard is there for everybody to see and I have no doubt that Basil Rajapaksa would be able to spearhead an accelerated development process in the Gampaha district as well as its current UPFA team leader, he added.