‘Nation will be enthroned to position of greatness’
*Issues can be settled by cordial
discussions
*Country now enjoys freedom and development
Dharma SRI ABEYRATNE in Batticaloa
The government will bring the Lankan nation to a position of
greatness in the world by implementing the policy of Mahinda Chinthana,
the Vision for the Future.
“It will establish a better future for you and your children, and the
country will be taken forward with more courage, strength and
confidence,” said President Mahinda Rajapaksa. He was addressing a
gathering at Vavunathivu, Batticaloa yesterday after commissioning a
mega water project. President Rajapaksa said his government always
stands by the people to build a better future for all communities.
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President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday
inaugurated the Batticaloa-Vavunathivu water supply scheme.
Here the President unveils the commemorative plaque to open
the pump house and administrative building. Eastern Province
Governor Rear Admiral Mohan Wijewickrama, Water Resources
and Drainage Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, Deputy Ministers
Nirupama Rajapaksa and Vinayagamurthi Muralitharan were
among those present. Left: Aerial view of the pump house.
Picture by Nalin Hewapathirana |
The President was warmly welcomed when he reached the venue by
thousands of people who were awaiting his arrival. This was the first
visit of a Head of State to the area after many decades.
The President said the government was always engaged in uplifting the
living standards of the people.
“Yet, it is regrettable that certain politicians want to keep people
destitute. No one is kept destitute by this government as it is a
people-friendly government,” the President said. President Rajapaksa
added that this water treatment plant is the second largest water
project in the country. No such water treatment plants are available
even in the Southern province. “That is the way the government treats
the people of the North and East who were badly affected by terrorism.”
Millions of rupees worth of funds are allocated to such fruitful
development activities. The government has been engaged in a massive
development initiative covering the entire country.
“Neither the North nor East is an exception,” he said. The President
further said each individual in the country is now experiencing the
freedom and enjoying the fruits of development. President Rajapaksa
asked the people of the area to visit other parts of the country and get
first-hand experience on the ongoing development activities. He noted
that any issue can be settled by cordial discussions. Much of our
expenditure is allocated to the development activities in the North. The
Uthuru Vasanthaya and Negenahira Navodaya programmes that target the
development of the North and East complement the country’s well-executed
development venture.
He further said a dream of the people in Batticaloa has come true
with the commissioning of this water project since the people have been
badly affected by the scarcity of water for decades.
The water project fulfils the water requirement of 246,000 people in
1,378 families in the Batticaloa district. With the financial assistance
of Asian Development Bank, the government has allocated Rs 11,000
million for the project.
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