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| Sunday, 2 October 2005 |
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Politics |  |
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PM unveils development plans for East by Rohan Mathes reporting from Oluvil Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse addressing a rally in the port city of Oluvil, to mark the fifth death anniversary of the former slain SLMC leader, the late A. H. M. Ashraff yesterday, pledged to carry forward the good work and ideals of A. H. M. Ashraff. Mahinda Rajapakse said, "the late A. H. M. Ashraff was not only a leader of the Muslim community, but a leader of all the communities, in the country. He was a national leader who lives in hearts even today and will live for evermore." Speaking further, he said that the Oluvil port project and the South Eastern University, were his concepts and are just a few development projects which he commenced for the well-being of his people, for whom he was consistently prepared and committed. Rajapakse recollected the days he was a colleague at Law College as a student with the late Ashraff and the formation of the Union in support of the Palestine cause. Ashraff took to active politics from there, he said, and soon blossomed into a great national leader, until his untimely demise. As we now get ready for a decisive Presidential Election on November 17, Rajapakse said, he has ascertained the problems of the people in the East. The farming community needs a mechanism to obtain a fair, favourable and sustainable price for their paddy and other crops, they grow while encouraging the private sector, we will establish an institution similar to the Paddy Marketing Board (PMB), which was closed down by the UNP regime, he said. We will also develop the South Eastern University by constructing more buildings and providing more facilities, to make it the most prestigious University in which Arabic language learning was high on the agenda. The Premier added that the Muslims were the most affected by the tsunami tragedy in the east, and pledged he would resolve their housing crisis at whatever caste, even by filling the sea, to locate suitable land for their housing, especially around Kalmunai area, where there is a acute land scarcity. "It is my responsibility and bounden duty," he stressed. Shipping and Aviation Minister Mangala Samaraweera, Eastern Development and Housing Minister Ferial Ashraff, Eastern Development Deputy Minister Anwar Ismail and several others addressed the rally. |
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