President begins second term in Nov:

Ceremony in A'pura

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

President Mahinda Rajapaksa will be sworn-in for his second term of his Presidency in mid November, at a ceremony to be held at the Anuradhapura sacred city, SLFP Secretary General and Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena said. The Minister said the President saved the country from terrorism by ending a 30 year war.

In a show of gratitude the public elected him as the President of Sri Lanka for the second time with a huge majority in January, Addressing a special SLFP press briefing at the Mahaweli Centre, Colombo yesterday Minister Sirisena said the swearing in ceremony will be held at the Anuradhapura sacred city on a grand scale with historical touch. It will be an honourable and dignified ceremony. President Rajapaksa is the only leader in the recent Sri Lankan history who stayed in Polonnaruwa for three days. The last Sri Lankan leaders who stayed in Polonnaruwa for over three days were Kings ruled the country. The President visit all regions himself and conduct progress review meetings.

According to Youth Affairs Minister Dullas Alahapperuma President Rajapaksa will be sworn-in on November 18 or 19. President will end his first term by bringing the first ship to Hambantota harbour.

The President spend his first term to eradicate terrorism and unite Sri Lanka. While doing that he put the foundation for historic development projects such as Hambantota harbour, Norochcholai power project etc. President Rajapaksa will fulfill the dreams of Sri Lankan people by completing the rest of the massive development projects he launched during his first term.