President appeals to Opposition:

‘Keep children out of politics’

* ‘We will not allow anyone to harm children’

* ‘Govt will win on performance and not on promises’

Rasika Somarathne in Kegalle and Galigamuwa Special CorrespondentSajith Thushara Premadasa

‘Don’t use students to gain political mileage, President Mahinda Rajapaksa appealed to opposition political parties yesterday. The President noted that certain opposition political parties were trying to make use of children who are the inheritors of the country’s future, to achieve petty political gain by targeting the examinations.

He appealed to those parties to keep children out of politics. President Rajapaksa said so addressing the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP)’s 61st anniversary celebrations at the Kegalle Urban Council grounds yesterday afternoon.

The SLFP anniversary celebrations held under the patronage of the President were attended by government ministers, parliamentarians, provincial politicians, party members, leaders of UPFA constituent parties and a large gathering of the general public. On the subject of children the President went on to say that there were attempts to confuse and pressurize them with falsehoods and to instigate students into engaging in road protests.

He said as a father of three children he was making a humble appeal to political parties to refrain from such acts and not to mislead children.

The President noted that the government will not allow any harm to come to children and will take appropriate action when necessary to prevent such occurrences.

Speaking on the country’s future the President said the Sri Lanka now was on the path of rapid economic and social development. He said the government has been able to achieve equity in development. He said that the gap between cities and villages has reduced due to enhanced development and areas and people become closer due to improved roads.

“The government’s policy in respect of all affairs will continue to be guided by the vital interests and well- being of the people. This will not yield to any other consideration,” he stressed.

While pointing out that people had to undergo difficulties due to neglect and delay of some development projects unnecessarily by previous regimes, the President asserted that the present government will never hesitate to implement development projects which would benefit the people.

On the upcoming Provincial Council elections the President said as a government which has kept it promises it had never any doubt at any time to go before the people seeking their verdict. He said that government will win on performance and not on promises.

Speaking on the SLFP’s 61st anniversary the President noted that Kegalle which had produced many past patriots and leaders of the country was an ideal ground to hold the historic event.

He said that the positive influences the SLFP had on the country during its six decade journey were immeasurable. The party which is completing 61 years will continue to pursue the people friendly political policies whilst steering the motherland to greater prosperity in the future as well, he added. A special magazine to mark the 61st anniversary of the SLFP anniversary edited by the ‘Dinamina’ Deputy News Editor Jayasiri Munasinghe, too was handed over to the President and other members who were gathered on the occasion.

Several government ministers and political leaders addressed the gathering.