By Walter Jayawardhana

President Mahinda Rajapaksa told his ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party electoral organizers that his government being an administration of one of the tiniest nations of the world was able to eliminate one of the deadliest terrorist outfits on earth by disregarding pressure and dictates by certain superpowers.

Addressing the electoral organizers of his ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party organizers of Mulkirigala, in Southern Province the President said, the valiant soldiers of the security forces with determination emboldened by correct political leadership freed the country of terrorism going against all odds.

(Photo by Nalin Hewapathirana)

The President said all those achievements were acquired for the sake of the common man.

He said he was proud of forming a government representing the interests of the small man.

He said the great development that is taking place in remote rural places like Southern Province is done with the greatest intention of uplifting the small man and create a better world for him. The President said, ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Some people who travel in these areas come and tell me that when they experience the new roads being built and see the construction of great irrigation work that would fill granaries of tomorrow, they have felt as if they entered into a new world never seen before.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚

The President said the development is planned out without thinking about benefitting only one area. The development is thought out as projects that would take the benefits from area to area. When roads are built industries follow. Raw materials and end products could be transported from production areas to other parts and for shipping. The President emphasized that any development in any area is done thinking about the whole country in mind.

He observed that development will not be confined to any certain area but be spread throughout the country. Villages have industries and roads. Massive development is underway in the East. Spring has dawned to the North. He observed that development will not be confined to any certain area but be spread throughout the country.

Mahinda Rajapaksa pointed out that they are confident in developing the villages to develop the entire country. The President said that they have come from the village and are aware of the needs of the people. Irrigation projects are underway. The country is self-sufficient in rice.

He said the government is currently building 18 sizeable irrigation works. He said Sri Lanka is a country full of welfare packages to the common people.

He said the advice he got from places like world bank was to decrease the government servants by 600,000. But he said he has increased it by 1200,000. So, the very man who decreased the state sector employees get upset and appeal the world authorities to immediately stop aid to the country. He had forgotten that he was proposing to cut aid to the people and not to the President, Mahinda Rajapaksa said , in an obvious reference to Ranil Wickramasinghe.

Members of the Maha Sangha, Ministers Anura Priyadharshana Yapa, Chamal Rajapaksa, Prof. G.L. Peiris, T.B. Ekanayake, Mahinda Amaraweera and Geetanjana Gunawardena and a large gathering were present.(EOM)

Caption: During his Southern tour President Rajapaksa was mobbed by his supporters when he met Beliatta branch SLFP office supporters and friends.