President Rajapaksa, a true leader

by Dinesh WEERAWANSA

Unlike most leaders or today's politicians, President Mahinda Rajapaksa is close to the common man and knows the pulse of the people. It was this truly Sri Lankan village power that helped him to beat all odds and reach the top.

He was a patient listener to the grievances of the masses, a tower of strength to trade union activists, the hope for thousands of relatives who lost their loved ones during 1987-89, a motivator for the gallant Security Forces in the battlefront, a true Statesman who could easily move with both the West as well as the East and above all a true father for our next generation as well, irrespective of their ethnic, religious or social backgrounds.

It was this common touch from his early days that enabled him to understand the hardships and grievances of the masses and the struggle of the working class.

As President Rajapaksa completes his third year in office, it is incumbent to look back and assess the developments from 2005 - 2008.

Casting aside traditional election manifestos and not merely making promises as practised by most politicians, he proposed the Mahinda Chintana, a vision, and a policy statement during the 2005 Presidential election campaign. The Mahinda Chintana is a plan for national rejuvenation, which is an inspiration in the New Social Democratic movement sweeping parts of the West.

In presenting the Mahinda Chinthana, his aim was to restore to every Lankan his dignity and inner strength, which had eroded over the years following the cataclysmic winds of change brought about by the open economy.

Thus, the 'Mahinda Chintana' has steered a Third Way between the extremes of the 1970-77 closed economy and the 1977-94 open economy era.

While overwhelming State intervention cannot be permitted to harm individual enterprise and initiative, we cannot swing to the other extreme and allow market forces to play a predominant a role in the economic life of the people.

Three years after his stunning victory, President Rajapaksa has not only won the hearts of the people who voted for him, but also many of those who opposed him, including 18 senior UNP parliamentarians, moderate Tamil politicians who believe in democracy and even former LTTE top rankers who had been fighting against the Government Forces.

The main reason for the support extended to him by the masses was his loyalty and patriotism. His fearless stand on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our Motherland impressed even his political opponents, by placing the country before self.

While the extremists tried to portray him as 'anti-peace', President Rajapaksa championed for peace. But it was not a mere peace at the expense of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our nation. It was not a peace that could be achieved at any cost. The peace, President Rajapaksa practises is a dignified peace, acceptable to all communities of our country.

The majority of the Tamil and Muslim people have clearly understood President Rajapaksa's vision. The President has clearly understood that LTTE terrorism and the genuine grievances of the Tamils are two different issues entirely. While replying to LTTE terror through military means, a political solution will be presented to genuine problems of the Tamils and Muslims living in the North and East.

While respecting the rights and aspirations of all communities in the country, the President by no means would tolerate terrorism, their agents and sympathisers.

The common slogan of his political opponents three years ago was the so-called 'poor international relations'. Nevertheless, the President has proved his critics wrong. The President has strengthened cordial relations with one and all - be it the Pope, US President, British Prime Minister, UN Secretary General or any other world leader.

He became the Head of State at a crucial juncture where certain interested international parties were trying to exploit the situation in Sri Lanka.

The right political leadership of President Rajapaksa has always been a tower of strength to our valiant Security Forces, who liberated the Eastern Province from the clutches of LTTE terrorism. The Security Forces are now set to hoist the Lion flag in Kilinochchi.

President Rajapaksa has taken several measures to promote agriculture. In keeping with the market trends, his Government has taken all steps to protect our farmers and traditional agro-based rural economy. The growth pattern of the economy has highlighted a significant development in agriculture, both in the commercial and domestic sector in the island, particularly with regard to paddy production.

As a result of several far-reaching steps taken by the Rajapaksa administration, Sri Lanka has beaten unfavourable world economic trends to maintain a growth rate of around seven per cent while our unemployment rate has been reduced to an all-time low.

More significantly, the President has set in motion a dialogue with all major political parties.

Despite his stand showing no mercy to terrorism and taking every possible step to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka, President Rajapaksa has steadfastly shown his keenness to resume peace talks, provided the LTTE lays down arms. Though the Government has achieved remarkable success in its battle against terrorism, the All Party Conference (APC) is making every endeavour to arrive at the most suitable political solution.President Rajapaksa has exploited his political acumen to blossom into a true leader. Hailed by all strata of society, he is indeed a people's President who works tirelessly to bring redress to their pressing problems.