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President hands over houses to war heroes:
President’s commitment ensured country’s freedom - Weeratunga
Dharma Sri Abeyratne
President Mahinda Rajapaksa had been unwavering in the face of much
local and foreign pressure against the country during the humanitarian
operation. As a result, we are all able to live in a free and
independent country today, said Secretary to the President Lalith
Weeratunga at a ceremony where the President handed over the ownership
of houses, constructed under the Api Venuven Api programme, to 30 war
heroes in Rambukkana Saturday.
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President Mahinda Rajapaksa handing over a house to a war
hero. Picture by Sudath Silva |
These Ranaviru houses have been constructed under the eighth phase of
the Api Venuven Api programme. Ranaviru houses had been constructed in
seven districts by Api Venuven Api programme. Under the eighth phase of
the housing project, 30 war heroes living in the Kegalle district
including a family of a soldier who sacrificed his life and several
injured soldiers were handed over the ownership of a Ranaviru house.
Secretary Weeratunga said at the ceremony that Sri Lanka is blessed
with the unique leadership of President Rajapaksa who is confident to
face any challenge or allegation. “The country should be proud to have a
leader of such bravery and devotion to the nation at a crucial times
when the humanitarian operation was ongoing.”
“Our troops who were at the forward defence lines at the height of
the conflict against brutal and ruthless terrorism, had no certainty of
ever returning to their bunkers alive. It was to pay tribute to the
heroic forces who made such sacrifices that President Rajapaksa decided
to honour them in this a way,” Secretary Weeratunga said.The Secretary
said that the President had a deep understanding and far-sighted wisdom
on issues of importance to the country and people. He said that with his
experience of over 30 years in the public service, he saw President
Rajapaksa as a great and unrivalled leader who had delivered on every
promise he had made to the people.
He added that on the advice of the President many welfare projects
for war heroes such as Abhimansala are being carried out to serve the
physical and mental health needs of war heroes.Commenting on the
activities of conspiratorial forces working against Si Lanka in Geneva,
he expressed immense dissatisfaction at those who considered the freeing
of Sri Lanka from terrorism as a fault and sought to punish the county
for this defence of freedom.
“When No Fire Zones were established to save Tamil civilians who were
caught in the clutches of terror, the terrorists targeted these zones
with their artillery and the government carried out an unquestioned
humanitarian operation to free those Tamil civilians,” he stressed.He
also explained the major steps being taken to achieve economic progress
in the country. |
