Changing the destiny of a nation

by Dinesh WEERAWANSA

Sri Lanka has achieved many milestones during the first four years with Mahinda Chinthana. It was four years ago on November 19, 2005 that President Mahinda Rajapaksa assumed office as Sri Lanka’s fifth Executive President and ever since, he has taken Sri Lanka to greater heights, liberating the country from the clutches of terrorism.

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. Sri Lanka was plagued by LTTE terror for three decades and the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity were at stake when President Rajapaksa took office. LTTE terror was at its highest as a result of the controversial Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) entered into by the then UNP Government of Ranil Wickremesinghe.

The election of President Rajapaksa as the country’s First Citizen changed the destiny of the nation. His fearless and far-sighted political sagacity inspired the Security Forces to end LTTE terror and liberate the country.

It was his right political backing and guidance that enabled the Security Forces to rewrite Sri Lanka’s military history. Only a few believed that Sri Lanka could achieve this hurricane task but the President directed the valiant Security Forces on the right track, supporting them whole-heartedly. During the last four years, President Rajapaksa has overcome all overwhelming odds to create history. After paving the way for a peaceful Sri Lanka for all communities to live in harmony, the President’s next goal is to take Sri Lanka towards economic prosperity. We could well achieve that goal too in the near future with the right economic policies implemented by the Government.

Despite fighting with the most ruthless terror outfit in the world in the biggest ever human rescue operation in the modern history, President Rajapaksa did not postpone the development work. Though a large sum of money had to be allocated for national security, an equal amount of funds were spent for development work.

The Hambantota port, Southern international airport at Mattala, Kerawalapitiya power project, Uma Oya, Moragahakanda, Kumbukkan Oya projects, Southern Highway, Upper Kotmale hydropower project, Norochcholai coal power plant and construction of ten flyovers are some of the mega development projects that are being implemented.

Unlike his predecessors who made loads of promises to capture power, President believed in his own policy statement. The Government, under his leadership, made every endeavour to implement the ‘Mahinda Chinthana’

policy which aims at socio-economic development of Sri Lanka.

More importantly, Sri Lanka has been able to maintain a clear foreign policy whilst protecting its rights as a sovereign nation. The country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity have been the top priority at all times.

President Rajapaksa has been 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. People will once again get an opportunity to endorse the mandate given to their leader. A second six-year term would give stability to President Rajapaksa’s efforts to win the economic war as well. It is the duty of all loyal and patriotic citizens to show their gratitude to the leader who saved our nation from disaster.