Victory at polls will strengthen forward march - President

Dharma Sri Abeyratne in Dehiattakandiya

The UPFA will strengthen its forward march by obtaining a landslide victory at the September 8 Provincial Council elections, winning all electorates since the government has fulfilled the people’s aspirations by eradicating terrorism, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said.

The President was addressing the United People’s Freedom Alliance propaganda rally in Dehiattakandiya town yesterday.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa addresses the large crowd at the UPFA election rally held at Dehiatthkandiya in support of its candidates contesting the upcoming Provincial Council elections, yesterday. Pictures by Chandana Perera

A crowd of 12,000 representing all electorates in the Ampara district attended the rally, shouting slogans supporting the UPFA. President Rajapaksa said certain parties including the UNP fear elections.

“These parties went before courts to cancel holding elections. Had the UPFA being in the Opposition, it would have insisted on holding elections.

The views, problems and issues of the people can be thrashed out only at elections.

Moreover, holding elections on time is a part of the democratic process. Elections are part and parcel of democracy.

It is regrettable that the value of elections has not been identified by the Opposition,” the President said. President Rajapaksa said the UPFA was popular enough to win the three provinces with a huge majority.

The UPFA would emerge an easy victor in the North Central, Sabaragamuwa and the Eastern Province, he said.

“We hold elections to give solutions to people’s issues and problems and not due to fear of the UNP,” the President said.

President Rajapaksa said the UPFA promised the people that the country would be liberated from terrorism. “The government fulfilled that promise by eradicating terrorism that dragged on for three decades in just three years,” he said.

President Rajapaksa said the government paid attention to infrastructure development, especially road development, after liberating the country from the LTTE. “While road development activities are in progress, other development activities and social development tasks are also being carried out.

Under this programme, rural electrification projects are being implemented. Moves have been made to strengthen the health sector and standards of education, fulfilling social needs etc,” he said.

The President said the government enjoys a two thirds majority in Parliament and have all Provincial Councils and Local Government institutions under the UPFA. “The President is also from the UPFA.

Therefore, to lead and steer the country forward towards development, people have to vote for the UPFA,” he said.