Stable Govt won war - President

Chaminda PERERA

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday said he had no other alternative other than increasing the number of Cabinet Ministers to form a stable Government which was a key factor in the elimination of terrorism and bringing peace to the country.

Addressing media personnel at Temple Trees, President Rajapaksa said his target of achieving peace by eradicating terrorism could not have been achieved if he had gone for a fresh General Election.

"The country would have been in danger, if we delayed this process. The gravity of the threat that we had at that time can be guessed by the stocks of ammunition being unearthed by the Security Forces now," he added. President Rajapaksa said the Government eradicated terrorism and established peace and the people can expect a lesser number of Cabinet Ministers in the next Government.

He said Ministers get less salaries than Parliamentarians. Parliamentarians' salaries are higher when allowances and perks are considered, he said.

"We gave priority to establish peace by eradicating terrorism that had plagued the country's development for more than 30 years. The Opposition would have charged us of making undue advantage from the war on terrorism if we failed to achieve that objective," President Rajapaksa said.

The President said Parliament should be strengthened more and the Executive Presidency could be abolished only by Parliament. President Rajapaksa said he is bound to solve problems of the people irrespective of their racial, political or any other differences and the perception of those who opposed the Government's endeavour to peace and prosperity to the country are rapidly changing since terrorism was completely wiped out from the country.

"The Opposition should fight with the Government and its through debate and argument that best opinions are evolved. But no one can endorse moves that are being taken by an Opposition against the country," he said.

"We never told the international community nor the lending agencies to suspend the credit facilities extended to the incumbent Government when we were in the Opposition. I went to the UN with Vasudeva Nanayakkara who was a Parliamentarian at that time and informed the Human Rights violations being perpetrated by the incumbent Government. But we never demanded for the suspension of aid to the country," the President said.