‘Grateful people will always remember D A Rajapaksa’

‘Many people were under the impression that the cursed 30 year terrorist conflict could only be ended by granting the demand for Eelam. Some people even feared to call LTTEers terrorists and preferred to call them ‘our boys’. State properly was destroyed and people of all communities lived in fear of their lives, states Presidential Co-ordinating Offficer (Religious Affairs) and Co- Chairman Inter Religious Alliance for National and Religious Unity Rev. Sarath Hettiarachchi.

‘Notwithstanding all these difficulties and trials and tribulations, a so called ‘Prince Diyasena’ emerged to liberate this country. He was affectionately referred to as the leader with a backbone. He did not fear terrorists or international conspiracies. He took on all opponents without fear and enabled Sri Lankans to breathe an air of freedom.

‘Today we are able to visit places of worship in the North and travel in public transport, attend school and workplaces without fear or suspicion due to the freedom and liberty he won for us.

‘A country which faced such a cruel war could never think of any development. But Sri Lanka was able to disprove this theory under the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

‘Immediately after the conflict, displaced persons were re-settled in their original villages in double quick time and they re-started their vocations with government support.

‘LTTE combatants rehabilitated by the government have been re-integrated into society. No one ever thought that diehard LTTE cadres would re enter the democratic process so fast. But all these dreams became a reality due to programmes formulated by President Mahinda Rajapaksa who is our Prince Diyasena.

‘The country's development effort has been accelerated. When considering all these plus points the President's term of office can be equaled to the times of ancient kings’ who havebequeathed a fearless President of this nature to the motherland. Who is the person who bequeathed a war hero in the calibre of Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and politicians of the calibre of Basil Rajapaksa and Chamal Rajapaksa.

‘According to social science a child is first brought under socialization from home under the guidance of parents. The man of great stature who offered guidance to the President was late D A Rajapaksa.

‘D A Rajapaksa closely associated himself with the people without any variety or fanfare and identified the needs and problems of farmers by taking the field as a farmer himself. He knew that Ruhuna is a self sufficient region with a fertile land for the cultivation of many food items. He knew that the country could be developed by offering a helping hand to the farmers in the area.

‘He raised a voice on behalf of the poor and spent his wealth for their welfare. ‘He fought hard to end the caste system in Giruwapattuwa and offer a sense of dignity to the innocent poor trampled by the feudal elite of that time.

‘In 1954 D A Rajapaksa was elected uncontested as the MP for Hambantota. He functioned as Deputy Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee from 1960 to 1964 and as Deputy Speaker in 1964. He was a true Leader who followed a Buddhist way of life.

‘He was dubbed the Lion of Ruhuna as he raised a voice against the kachcheri and Mudliyar systems as a true revolutionary. His dream of developing Ruhuna has been almost realized as many development projects have been launched in the region already. A grateful people will never forget the services of D A Rajapaksa and on his 46th death anniversary commemoration, we gratefully recall the great socio political service rendered by him’.