Voice of the common man

Sarath MALALASEKERA

President Mahinda Rajapaksa introduced his political ideologies under the Mahinda Chintanaya and gave a solemn promise that he would end LTTE terrorism within his tenure of Office.

In May 2009, he crushed and defeated the ruthless LTTE terrorist movement and brought peace to the Country, said Consumer Affairs Council Chairman and Senior Attorney Upali Senaratne.

Mahinda Rajapaksa takes his oaths as President of Sri Lanka for the second term on November 19, 2010. He is 65 years of age being born on November 18, 1945. At the age of 24 he entered the Parliament and after 1994 became Labour Minister and Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Minister.

In April 2004 he became the Prime Minister and in November 2005 he was elected as the sixth President of Sri Lanka. His rise to the helm was unstoppable.

Promises kept

After the war addressing the nation President Mahinda Rajapaksa said -”We have saved our country from Tiger terrorism for all citizens to enjoy the freedom without fear. Next challenge before me is to ensure the development of our Motherland to secure a better future for the present and future generations. I will take that seriously and I guarantee I will keep my promise as I did before.”

His vision for this country was to change Sri Lanka to be a modern State whilst fostering the National Heritage and Culture with peaceful co-existence among the communities of Sinhala, Tamil and Muslims and others, instilling economic growth and prosperity and maintaining friendly relations with all the Nations, he said.

Development in full swing

Senior Attorney Senaratne emphasized that some of the significant projects launched by this Government are Maga Neguma, Gama Neguma, Uthuru Wasanthaya and Negenahira Navodaya. The 4D concept of this Government known as Demilitarization, Democratization, Development and Devolution too are worthy of attention.

Rehabilitation of child soldiers, demilitarization and disarming of armed groups and demining of territories occupied by the LTTE militants are part of the demilitarization program of this Government. Under development, the Government has launched Maga Neguma and Gama Neguma under which roads have been repaired and new roads have been built all over the country. Electricity and water have been provided to villages to uplift the lives of villagers.

Power to the people

President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Government has begun Kotmale, Kerawalapitiya, Norochcholai Projects simultaneously and now they are nearing completion. The Colombo-Kandy highway, Galle Road, Low Level road and Rajagiriya road have been repaired and new flyovers have been built.

Through Uthuru Wasanthaya and Negenahira Nawodaya the Government has built new road networks. Unnichchi Tank, Karawathi Drainage System have been commenced. Irrigation tanks were repaired and rebuilt. Abandoned paddy lands have been cultivated and fisheries industry has been given a new life. Iranamadu Tank was built and bridges are being constructed in the North and the East.

The road construction from Arugam Bay to Point Pedro is to be commenced soon. Yan Oya Bridge and Kinniya Bridge have already been completed.

East Coast Highways will be built very soon which will run through Pulmudai, Mulativu to Point Pedro.

Education reforms and knowledge enhancement

The Government is firmly committed to teach Sinhala, Tamil and English in every school and by year 2020 all our children will trilingual and Ministry of Education has already commenced programs towards the achievement of this goal. Every school will have Information Technology units with modern computer systems and by 2020 all our children will be computer literate.

Steps will be taken to upgrade University Education System giving more autonomy to students but minimizing university unrest.

Tourism development

With the present infrastructure development programs and construction of new hotels all over the country will have a tremendous impact on tourism, which will bring in large amounts of foreign exchange to this country.

Colombo Port Expansion Project, National Highways Sector Project, Southern Transport Development Project, Distance Education Modernization Project have commenced with the help of the Asian Development Bank.

With the technical and financial assistance of the Government of France the Trincomalee Integrated Infrastructure project (TIIP) has begun.

The Government of India has given assistance on the upgrading of the Railway line from Colombo to Matara. The Southern Highway Construction Project, Upper Kotmale Hydropower project, Greater Colombo Transport Project are some of the projects that have begun with the financial aid of the Government of Japan.

The Hambantota Port Development Project and the Puttalam Coal Power project have commenced with the assistance of the Government of the Peoples Republic of China.

Airports are being built and domestic airlines will be started to transport people from Katunayake to all the major districts in the country. The domestic airports at Jaffna, Trincomalee and Hambantota will be completed by the end of year 2011.

The Hambantota harbour Project, Colombo South Harbour Project and Oluvil Harbour Project have now commenced and immense economic benefit will be derived from them.

“It is apparent, that with these projects how the Government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the regional level strive to bring about balanced economic development.

With the construction of new roads, bridges, railway tracks, transport services, electricity transmission lines, water supply and sanitation, housing facilities and telecommunication services, massive economic and social infrastructure development has taken place,” Senior Attorney Senaratne added.

Senaratne emphasized that he wish to conclude mentioning the historic speech made by President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the United Nations Assembly in Tamil, which surprised the other leaders of the world who were present at the Assembly.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa in Tamil said “With the dawn of democracy in our country the bonds between the Sinhalese and Tamil people of Sri Lanka will grow stronger and remain a major force for its future development.

We will march towards a richer freedom and abiding unity that will await us as a Nation.” Senior Attorney Senaratne said that having been a contemporary of President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Law College, it is with great pleasure that he sends his greetings on this happy and momentous occasion.