No reversal in Northern liberation - President

Rohan MATHES - reporting from Ruwanwella

Ruwanwella: President Mahinda Rajapaksa asserted that after the lapse of a prolonged period of absolute tolerance and patience and failed negotiations with the LTTE, his Government eventually responded in the language best understood by the terrorists with the strong resolve of not turning back until the very last terrorist is captured.

President Rajapaksa made this assertion when he presided and addressed a mammoth and colourful rally at the Ruwanwella Esplanade yesterday, in support of the UPFA candidates contesting the forthcoming Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council elections on August 23.

“We liberated the Eastern Province and will liberate the North too very shortly. There is no turning back under any circumstances or influence now, until every inch of land is recaptured and each and every terrorist is killed or captured. Our Armed Forces are fighting the terrorists to protect our Motherland at the risk of their lives,” the President said.

“We will fight the war until every citizen, regardless of his ethnicity, Sinhalese, Tamil, Muslim, Burgher or Malay, has the right to live in his Motherland, sans fear nor suspicion, in perfect harmony and unity,” the President reiterated.

He pointed out that it was by no means an easy task and they would have to face daunting challenges and obstacles as they proceed. They would however end up victoriously.

Outlining briefly the sequence of events that transpired since his assumption to office on November 19 up to the closure of the Mavil Aru Anicut by the LTTE, the President pointed out that the people gave him a mandate to re-unite the entire country and make it stable and secure.

Nevertheless, a spree of continuous and heinous crimes were committed in cold blood, against innocent and unarmed men, women and children, and the Armed Forces by the LTTE, sans any breathing space to his Government.

The Government in turn relentlessly and painstakingly strove to resolve the crisis peacefully and amicably with the LTTE, by using all means at their disposal and by a process of continuous dialog and negotiation.

Government delegations were in Geneva twice for talks. Nevertheless, the LTTE rejected all these peaceful paths. It is then that he as the Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, had to take decisive action in ordering the Armed Forces to attack the terrorists on all fronts.

From then onwards, the gallant Armed Forces have consolidated themselves and achieved victory after victory and defeated the terrorists.

President Rajapaksa opined that as envisioned in the Mahinda Chintanaya, his Government shifted development which was confined only to the Western Province, mainly Colombo and its suburbs, to the village to uplift the living standards of the village polity too.

Based on this policy, the villagers are now able to fetch enhanced prices for their produce such as Tea, Rubber and other minor crops. They now have fully concreted roads in their villages.

After completion of the main roads his Government has now embarked on a programme to construct all roads at the Provincial Council level. The Government has set aside a colossal sum of Rs 3,000 million for this.

Other Development programmes such as ‘Gama Neguma’ and ‘Maga Neguma’ are also in progress. Several employment-generating programmes in the sphere of tourism among others, are also in the pipeline.

“Place your whole-hearted faith and trust in our Government which is dedicated and duty-bound with responsibility, to protect our ‘Motherland’. Ensure that our Government wins the Provincial poll of Sabaragamuwa convincingly,” President Rajapaksa added.

Ministers Susil Premjayantha, Puthra Sigamany, A.H.M. Fowzie, Dinesh Gunawardena, Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Mano Wijerathna, Tissa Witharana, Athauda Senevirathna, former Chief Minister of the Sabaragamuwa Province Mahipala Herath and former UNP Minister Nandimithra Ekanayake also addressed the rally.

This was the third consecutive victorious rally from a series of rallies organised by the Government to garner votes for their respective candidates.