‘CMC UNP mayoral candidate has already accepted defeat’

Chaminda PERERA

The UNP mayoral candidate for the Colombo Municipal Council has already accepted defeat at the forthcoming Local Government election President Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday.

The President added that he saw a report in a paper where he has challenged Colombo Municipal Council UPFA mayoral candidate Milinda Moragoda for an open debate.

President Rajapaksa added that he read a news item where the UNP mayoral candidate has stated that he was not willing for an open debate with Moragoda. “To my dismay, this particular candidate vying for the Colombo mayorship under the UNP ticket has withdrawn this challenge and has instead proposed to have a debate with leaders of the government,” the President said.

The President was addressing members of all communities living in Colombo city at Temple Trees yesterday.

President Rajapaksa added that he is confident that all Local Government bodies, including the Colombo Municipal Council would be won by the government.

He reiterated that shanty dwellers in Colombo will not be evicted under any circumstances and instead the government would ensure them better houses with all facilities.

“We assure you that you would not be evicted from your present dwellings. Instead we will provide you a better house in the same place where you are living now,“ he added.

He said that rumours are going on that plans are underway to remove three wheelers from Colombo city. President Rajapaksa insisted that three wheelers would not be removed from Colombo city. He commended three wheeler drivers’ service to maintain security in the city during the height of terrorist atrocities. He emphasized that the government has no plans whatsoever to deny them their livelihoods through a cab service.

President Rajapaksa said he as a student of Nalanda College, Colombo, had seen the travails and misery faced by people in shanty dwellings.

“The government always stood by what it promised to the people during the presidential election. We came to power with a promise of eradicating terrorism and we kept that promise by eradicating terrorism,” he said. He added that the government vowed that the dividends of development would be brought to the villages and it was also achieved.

The President added that the government pledges to ensure better living standards for the people living in shanty dwellings in Colombo which will be fulfilled by the government. Irrigation and Water Resources Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, Ports Deputy Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardena and Deputy Economic Development Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena were present.