Fresh conspiracy to divide country again:

Govt ensures equality for all - President

by Rasika SOMARATHNA in Akurana

President Mahinda Rajapaksa emphasised that the Government led by him had restored the rights of all communities by defeating the forces of terror and other separatist elements to ensure equality among all citizens.

The President told a massive public rally in Akurana, on Friday attended by a large number of Muslims and other communities that the Government had always fought to protect the rights of Muslims among others who bore the brunt of the 30-year-old conflict.

He said that past rulers had paid scant respect to a section of the Muslims from the North and the East who had been displaced for almost 19 years till the present Government came to their rescue.

President Rajapaksa said that when there were difficulties to air Muslim prayers, in mosques through loudspeakers, he had helped them by broadcasting Muslim prayers five times a day over the SLBC. Now we should not have any differences, we are the children of the same mother, mother Sri Lanka,” he said.

The President said that the majority of the Muslim and Tamil communities were firmly behind him as he had assisted them during his entire political career.

He said that the country was in the process of returning to normalcy and the people were reaping the benefits of peace and economic development. He also said that the time has now come for Sri Lankans to think globally. “As a first step on the journey we must first become a power-house of SAARC.

“For this purpose we have laid the foundation by launching a massive development program. We can make Sri Lanka the, maritime, air, trade and IT hub of South Asia in the near future. However, there is a fresh conspiracy being hatched which threatens to divide the country again.

“The need of the hour is to defeat this conspiracy which may sow the seeds of communal disharmony. I am sure that people will give a fitting response on January 26 to these conspirators,” he said.

The rally organised by Minister Faizer Mustapha, was also addressed by a number of Ministers and other dignitaries.