President will announce polls date soon - Premajayantha

by Shanika SRIYANANDA

President Mahinda Rajapaksa will announce the date soon if he is going to face an early Presidential poll UPFA General Secretary and Minister of Education Susil Premajayantha said.

He said that President Rajapaksa and his Government were confident that people would elect him again as the President of this country.

“The UPFA would have a landslide victory in whatever polls”, he said. When asked about a specific date of the much awaited announcement, Minister Premajayantha said, “The president will announce the polls as soon as possible”.

Minister Premajayanth said that the main pledge that President Rajapaksa gave the people was the eradication of terrorism during his tenure and he kept that promise. “People know that no other leader fought nationally and internationally to wipe out the LTTE and we are confident that people in all districts would rally round the President to lead this country to a prosperous era”, he said.

He said that announcing a date for a poll is in the hands of President Rajapaksa and he would soon decide whether he would go for early polls as he has another two years to serve the country.

“We are not afraid to face any so-called common candidates by the Opposition, because we know that the people are with the President and the UPFA,” he said adding that President Rajapaksa was the only leader who brought an end to terrorism, did not kneel down to the West and also launched a massive development drive covering the four corners of the country.

He said President Rajapaksa spearheaded many development projects that had been neglected by previous leaders. “While fighting the LTTE, he wanted the country’s development to go forward”, he said. The UPFA General Secretary said that the mega power generation projects such as the Norochcholai Coal power and Upper Kothmale Hydro power projects, the Oluvil and Hambantota harbours, Mattala International Airport and Moragahakanda Irrigation project would never have been a reality if not for the commitment of President Rajapaksa.

“This proves that the President is not only capable of defeating terrorism but also developing the country. He is the only leader who kept his main election pledge - to defeat terrorism. Nobody can mislead the people and we are confident that they will strengthen the hands of the President for him to continue to develop the country”, he said.

Minister Premajayantha said that it was very unfortunate that some political parties in the Opposition were trying to gain political mileage but no alliance could defeat the UPFA”.