Join or leave is at your discretion - President

Rohan Mathes reporting from Kurunegala

President Mahinda Rajapaksa asserted that the SLFP is truly a democratic party of the people and therefore any individual or party could join or leave it, at his or her discretion at any time.

The President made this assertion to a mammoth and cheering crowd at a colourful 'Jana Hamuwa' (People's Rally), inclusive of traditional cultural song and dance, in Kurunegala, Maligapitiya Playgrounds yesterday.

This was the second of a series of rallies organised by the Government to avail the people of the present political situation in the country, in the backdrop of a baseless and slanderous propaganda campaign launched by the Opposition UNP and other reactionary forces to discredit the government's victory over the LTTE in the East and to hamper its massive development programmes.

President Rajapaksa added that the time has now emerged for all political parties in the country to eliminate politics of jealousy, envy and hatred, and work together in harmony for the prosperity of our motherland and for the wellbeing of our future generations.

"We will develop the country and simultaneously liberate it from Prabhakaran's insanity, separatism and terrorism. We will look back only after we have accomplished our tasks and responsibilities bestowed upon us by our people. We will fully implement the 'Mahinda Chintanaya' we promised to the people", he said.

However, President Rajapaksa opined that irrespective of what the J. R. Jayewardene's constitution implied, he would at all times respect and uphold democracy in its true sense, until such time the people are with him. "We seek everyone's contribution and unity as otherwise the country will head for anarchy."

He reiterated that the leadership of the country and the SLFP is no longer with a few of the 'elite' class in Colombo as in the past. "It is now with the common man of the village. Ranbanda can now come to the highest position of the party and the land. We cannot revert it now," he said.

President Rajapaksa noted that the government fully understood the burning issues of the people, such as the escalating cost of living, due to uncontrollable local and global factors, and urged the people to bear with him until such time the government could remedy them. "We are a developing country while fighting a war. Please give us a little time to ease your burdens," he added.

Ministers Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, Maithripala Sirisena, Mervyn Silva, Hemakumara Nanayakkara, T. B. Ekanayake, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, S. B. Nawinna, Jayarathna Herath, Wayamba Chief Minister Athula Wijesinghe, Western Province Chief Minister Reginold Cooray, among others, also addressed the rally.