'Certain media distort facts to breach goodwill'

Sandasen MARASINGHE in Kilinochchi

President Mahinda Rajapaksa

President Mahinda Rajapaksa said that some media carry distorted and incorrect reports in a manner to breach the goodwill he had built with the people of this country.

He also said that these media act in a manner to make way for those who attempt to realize the Eelam dream while living overseas.

The President said that these dreamers who had never visited the North, execute their schemes not for the love for the people there.

He made these observations at a national ceremony held in Kilinochchi on Monday to grant self-employment loans.

Rs 185 million was given to 1,560 persons as self-employment loans at a low interest rate.

President Rajapaksa said that those people who earn billions by only talking in English about the problems of the innocent, while leading comfortable lifestyles overseas, never spent a cent for the well-being of those innocent. He added that those persons cannot converse in Tamil language even to the extent that he speaks Tamil.

The President also challenged them to build a house, a playground, a road in the North for the people from the money they have amassed overseas without speaking of their problems.

He also stated while the children of politicians whose houses are well- established in Kilinochchi study abroad. The children of the ordinary

have to suffer.

The President added that these people have ample time to go from one embassy to another, airing their problems, without paying any attention to the innocent people.

Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms Minister Chandrasiri Gajadeera and Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Minister Douglas Devananda also spoke.