Moments and memories of Moragahakanda
 

by Rohan Mathes reporting from Moragahakanda

President Mahinda Rajapaksa asserted that the doors are open for any patriot respecting the ideals of the 'Mahinda Chinthana', which fulfils the peoples' aspirations, to join his government, and contribute for the nation's prosperity.

President Rajapaksa made this assertion when he participated as the chief guest and ceremonially inaugurated the construction work on the epoch making, mega irrigation scheme, the largest ever development project launched by his government at Moragahakanda, Elahara last Thursday.

He said that his government is inclined to face daunting challenges, and; that fact had been amply demonstrated by boldly facing the challenges of the LTTE, who were once assumed to be invincible, but are now shrinking in fear.

The giant step taken in the construction of the great Moragahakanda-Kaluganga Reservoir Project, will not only benefit the people of the North Central Province, but also the innocent Tamil community who are in the grip of LTTE terrorism in the North and the East.

"This great 'Water way' which will flow to the North and the East will extinguish the fires of racism spread by the vicious terrorism prevailing there. If mega development projects like this were launched around 20 to 30 years ago, then LTTE terrorism would have been doomed at its very nascent stage. I am fully convinced that doing justice to the innocent Tamil community, is the most powerful weapon to defeat terrorism. We must be aware that otherwise the nation is destined for destruction," he said.

The President opined that the armed forced had the ability, strength and the zeal to vanquish terrorism, and they have already proved it in the East. "We had not given them political targets, or commercialised the war. We had driven away the demonic 'Commission menace out of the Defence Ministry. We have also based our politics on cooperation instead of hatred", he said.

President Rajapaksa was of the view that the ancient 'Paddy Seed' heritage and mentality had been diverted to a 'Mercenary mentality', which was detrimental to the nation not only by the 'Greens' but also the 'Blues' as well, in the past. His government had changed this mentality by the 'Mahinda Chinthana' which was not only an 'Election Manifesto', but a new vision, for a new nation.

He paid tribute to the regional residents who had been displaced due to the construction which is under way, and assured them that his government will look after their needs accordingly.

Mahaweli and Agriculture Minister Maithripala Sirisena, Provincial Councils and Local Government Minister Janaka Bandara Tennekoon and several others also addressed the ceremony.