President's second term of office:

Golden era for all - ANCL Chairman

A special ceremony was held at Lake House yesterday to mark the assumption of duties of President Mahinda Rajapaksa for his second term of office. Lake House Chairman Bandula Padmakumara delivered the following speech when he addressed the Board of Directors and management of Lake House including newspaper editors and department heads to mark the occasion.

"We are fortunate to be living during a decisive moment of the country's history. We are even more fortunate to be part of that history. I wish to begin my speech by reminding you that you all at Lake House are such fortunate people".

"There is no doubt that the new era which begins today following President Mahinda Rajapaksa's swearing-in for the second term of office will be a golden era which will fulfil the hopes and aspirations of all patriotic people of this country".

"President Mahinda Rajapaksa is assuming his second term of office after recording a convincing victory which will be recorded in letters of gold in the history of this country".

"He was able to stop thirty years of bloodshed in this country and wipe out sorrowful tears from our eyes as well as thousands of others. He wiped out terrorism which was a setback to the country's development. He made Sri Lankans who were considered weak, a proud nation before the international community".

"We at Lake House are fortunate not only because we are able to enjoy the fruits of this great victory made possible by him but also because we got an opportunity to be shareholders of that victory. I am proud to state that Lake House where you work played a major and conspicuous role as the most powerful media institution which strengthened the hands of the President".

"While our beloved war heroes were fighting in the North and East sacrificing their own lives you all including Lake House editorial staff launched a massive media campaign to encourage our war heroes. As war heroes fought with their weapons in hand you all supported them by using the pen as your weapon. Lake House was in the forefront not only in the humanitarian operation but also in the corresponding massive political operation".

"We supported the great leader Mahinda Rajapaksa during the Presidential Election Campaign as well as other election campaigns as we considered it as our duty. It became a national duty. We all performed that duty hundred percent. That is why I say that each and everyone of you from the Editors, down to the production department employees and the labourers who loaded the bundle of newspapers to the lorry for dispatch are proud shareholders of this national struggle".

"The President while launching a massive operation against terrorism during the last few years did not neglect the country's development effort and the progressive forward march".

"I wish to remind you that we at Lake House while offering strength and assistance to the President following his footsteps took many steps to develop and modernize our institution".

Our first step was to reduce excess staff at Lake House. According to economists this is a great victory for the institution in a situation where almost 65 percent of the income had to be set apart for salaries and wages and worker welfare. We gave a handsome retirement package to those who left us under the VRS.

But the profit that will accrue to Lake House as a result of this exercise during the coming years will be almost four times that amount.

"After 16 years we were able to acquire a new printing press for Lake House. We faced many difficulties in importing this machine. But today this machine has become a source of pride and strength to us. As a result of acquiring this new machine we were able to print the Telephone Directory last year. This year we were able to print 24 types of books for the Book Publication Board and hand them over to the Government on schedule and earn the plaudits of the Board for a job well done.

"The income we will be earning from this book project alone will be Rs 200 million.

"We have spent Rs 44 million for the CTP machine. Today we are able to complete the pre prints of newspapers through CTP technology. The Ad Pro Technology was introduced to simplify the procedure of canvassing advertisements. We spent Rs 15 million on it. Our next target is to introduce news pro software to the Editorial Departments."While bringing in these technological improvements we also strived hard to improve the quality of our newspapers substantially. The tabloid supplements introduced for the Dinamina have become very popular. Our newest publication. The "Namaskara" monthly magazine is receiving a high reader response. It is pleasing to note that we have been able to start the Sunday Observer classified advertisement supplement two weeks ago disproving the belief of most people who said that it could not be done without a new printing machine.

"The publicity given by our newspapers to the government's development projects included in the Mahinda Chinthana vision for the future is most commendable. The interest shown by our newspapers towards the government's moral and spiritual development programs such as 'Mathata Thitha', and operations against vice and the underworld are also laudable.

"I am fully confident that our newspapers and employees will dedicate themselves to widen these services and assist in the realisation of the goals of Mahinda Chinthana future vision and development of moral values.

"I believe that they are all proud to be employees of Lake House who love their country and nation.

"This was proved by the manner employees of Lake House behaved during the last few weeks. They made a commendable contribution towards the series of pinkam organised by the Lake House Buddhist Association to invoke blessings on the President to mark his swearing-in for his second term in office.

"The Advertising Departments, pre-press, Editorial Departments and printing and Circulation Departments rendered an unforgettable service towards publishing the newspaper supplement to mark the inauguration of the President's second term of office. I wish to mention with gratitude and thanks that each and every Lake House employee rendered the best possible service towards the setting up of the CTP machine and the Ad Pro technology and Publishing the Observer Adz Supplement.

"I also wish to commend the management for the highest dedication shown towards conducting these operations.

"Let us who love the institution join hands and work hard as true brothers. As the leading Newspaper Institution we have a duty to perform by the country and the nation.

"That is the noble duty of taking through our media the Mahinda Chinthana vision for the future to the people. Let us perform that duty to the letter.

Thank you."