‘President only leader who faced difficult challenges’

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

“President Mahinda Rajapaksa is the only leader in Sri Lanka’s political history since independence who faced the most challenges thrown at him locally and internationally and emerged victorious,” said SLFP General Secretary Minister Maithripala Sirisena at the weekly SLFP press briefing at the Mahaweli Centre.

“The President brought fame to Sri Lanka. The government will strengthen democracy in the country and maintain stability, taking full responsibility for safeguarding the country and its people.”

Minister Sirisena said that for the first time in Sri Lankan history, over 7,000 people came from the North and East to participate in the May Day celebrations in Colombo. The people showed the world how much they support President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his government.

The government will not take the credit and sit back doing nothing. It will do everything possible to achieve rapid development and safeguard the country and its people. Since 1956, all SLFP governments which ruled the country had done a lot for the working class both locally and at international level. Minister Sirisena pointed out that from the beginning, the Sri Lankan government rejected the controversial Darusman Report, the appointment of the panel and all related developments. Sri Lanka does not consider this report as a UN Report. Sri Lanka will educate the international community on the truth.

“The UN is ours and the General Secretary of the UN is also ours. It is because we are a part of the UN. We cannot act against the UN because we accept and respect it. But there are certain local and foreign elements that try to make Sri Lanka unstable using the controversial Darusman Report. The government is addressing this issue at the moment at all levels. Unfortunately the UNP which had a glorious past is now totally destroyed. Its internal conflicts are exploding from time to time with various developments,” the minister said.

The latest explosion is related to the appointment of a National Organizer. The JVP is also in the same fragmented position.

The government will always listen to the people’s voice and strengthen democracy. The government will not ignore the people’s wishes Minister Sirisena added.