Northern liberation looming - President

Rohan MATHES in Anuradhapura

ANURADHAPURA: President Mahinda Rajapaksa asserted on Saturday that the day on which the oppressed masses of Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu, could enjoy the same freedom and the liberty enjoyed by the Eastern polity was not too far away.

“While eradicating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, we will simultaneously develop the entire country,” President Rajapaksa told a public rally in Anuradhapura.

Rejecting and denouncing the ‘ceasefire’ proclaimed unilaterally by the LTTE recently to mark the SAARC summit in Colombo, President Rajapaksa categorically stated that the Government was only engaged in ‘humanitarian operations’ to provide ‘humanitarian assistance’ to the down-trodden and oppressed masses in the North, as opposed to war.

The President urged Armed Forces personnel still on vacation, to report to their respective duties at their very earliest as their valuable and dedicated services were vitally and urgently required for their Motherland at this crucial juncture.

President Rajapaksa made this call when he addressed a mammoth rally in Anuradhapura, the first in a series of rallies, in support of the UPFA candidates contesting the Sabaragamuwa and North Central Provincial Council (PC) elections on August 23.

He asserted that at a time the Armed Forces were marching victoriously in their battle against terrorism and the LTTE breathing their last, it was destined to confront a definite ‘Waterloo’ very soon.

He said if they evaded and failed to report for their duties, they may be Court Martialled.

President Rajapaksa lauded the great zeal and enthusiasm displayed by the disabled ‘war heroes’ in the Anuradhapura hospital, whom he had visited them that day.

“These ‘war heroes’ who were badly disabled were too willing to get back to the battlefront again, if they were discharged from the hospital. They were determined to fight the terrorists, tooth and nail, and capture Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu,” he said.

Roads, schools and other mega development projects such as the Norochcholai, Kothmale and Kerawalapitiya power projects and the Moragahakanda irrigation project among others, would be taken forward expeditiously. The spree of victories achieved by the Government would be further augmented by a definite and a landslide victory at the forthcoming PC elections of Sabaragamuwa and North Central on August 23.

“This would undoubtedly consolidate our Government, the Armed Forces and the people,” he added.

The President noted that the farmer obtained a reasonable and high price for his paddy, and thereby given his due place. Nevertheless, he pointed out that when the farmer is benefited in this manner, obviously the consumer would experience a problem.

“So, there should be a ‘balancing act’, where both the farmer and the consumer is protected. We will ensure that both parties’ interests are taken into consideration”, he added.

Refuting claims as reported in certain quarters of the media, that the President would also resort to a referendum, the President categorically ruled it out.

“I will never ever resort to ‘Kalageddi Sellama’ practice. I will hold the PC elections, followed by the Parliamentary elections. I will win that too. Everything is in the hands of the people whom we represent,” he said.

He added that the masses of ‘Raja rata’ had immense faith and trusted the UPFA government, and beyond any possible doubt, they would elect Berty Premalal Dissanayake as the Chief Minister of the North Central P.C.

Ministers Maithripala Sirisena, Dew Gunasekera, Susil Premajayanth, D.M. Jayarathna, Mervyn Silva, Najib A, Majid and R.M. Podiappuhamy, Somaweera Chandrasiri, W. P. Ekanayake, ex UNP stalwart Asoka Wadigamagawa, JVP Parliamentarian Lal Kantha’s former Private Secretary Shean Padmakumara also addressed the rally.