President at Tangalle:

Don’t use politics of violence

*We have ended these evil trends

*Work honestly for the people

Politics should not be based on violence or vindictiveness and with the last Presidential election we have ended both these evil trends in the political arena of our country, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday.

Addressing the first General Election campaign meeting at the Tangalle Town Hall to support the candidature of Namal Rajapaksa, the President said we were able to save the country from another bloodbath recently. For the first time in the history of elections in this country everyone from those in the state service to the villager at the grassroots level was threatened. But we were able to wipe out politics of terror with the last Presidential election.

“The people of this country especially the villagers have a clear understanding of the country and the national cultural bonds nurtured by Buddhism and our other national religions were strong.

“And as you know one cannot get the love or respect of the community by demanding them but by working honestly for the people.

“That was the reason why the people reposed trust in us. We have placed our second manifesto Mahinda Chintana Idiri Dekma program for rapid socio-economic national development that would be implemented by us in the future,” the President said.

“Though I had two more years to complete my first term of office, I decided to go before the people as I was keen to carry forward the development of the country.

Though the people were not with us we got votes from each of the villages or towns in the north and east.

Those people had not witnessed a democratic election for the past 30 years .

They had the opportunity of voting for the first time.

It is not important now whether they gave me a mandate as I am President not only for those who voted for me but for all people.

I will serve each one impartially, the President said.