President tells people of North :
WE ENDED FEAR
* Bestowed the greatest gift of peace
* Stopped era where parents hid their
children
Chaminda Perera in Jaffna
President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday said the people in the North
and South were bestowed with the greatest gift of freedom by the
government after three decades of conflict.
The government is taking every possible effort to provide what is
required for the people, he said.
The President stressed the government ensured the people’s right to
live in the country free from fear and intimidation. He said a peaceful
environment dawned for all children to pursue their education without
fear and make use of the facilities made available to them by the
government.
President Rajapaksa insisted that the government is providing what is
needed for the people irrespective of the remarks made by the
opposition. He added the country ended an era in which parents feared
for their children’s safety.
President Rajapaksa was speaking at the inauguration of the central
functioning building complex of the Jaffna Teaching Hospital yesterday.
He said there was an era where the children were hidden by their
parents.
“Our responsibility is to ensure the health, prosperity and
protection of the younger generation,” he said.
This building complex consisting of 10 surgical theatres, an ICU
unit, laboratory, cancer early detection centre and many other
facilities is a donation from the government and the people of Japan.
The Japanese government provided a grant of Rs 2,550 million for the
project through the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
The President inspected the facilities made available for patients at
the new building complex after unveiling the plaque.
President Rajapaksa said the people do not see what the government
has done for them and they are also in the habit of pointing out
shortcomings.
He said the government is making very possible effort to iron out its
shortcomings.
President Rajapaksa expressed his gratitude to the government and the
people of Japan for providing assistance for the construction of the new
wing of the Jaffna Teaching Hospital.
The President said the people in the entire Northern Province benefit
from this project.
“Over 0.5 million people in the district receive treatment at this
hospital,” he said.
He said the government is in the process of rebuilding everything
destroyed by the terrorists over a period of three decades.
Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena, Small Enterprise Development
Minister Douglas Devananda, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa,
Japanese ambassador to Sri Lanka Nubuhito Hobo and JICA officials were
also present.
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