Political leaders hail President’s victory

by L. S. Ananda WEDAARACHCHI

General Secretary of the SLFP and Agricultural Development and Agrarian Services Minister Maithripala Sirisena said the rural masses had taken a keen interest in casting their votes for President Mahinda Rajapaksa who is held in high esteem in the country.

The public had given President Rajapaksa an absolute mandate for a second term. It was the tradition of the people of Sri Lanka to express their gratitude to the President for liberating the country from terrorism, he said.

President Rajapaksa had won the Presidential Election - 2010 with a resounding majority as the public had confidence in him to carry forward the socio-economic development programs he had already started, said Mass Media and Information and Enterprise Development and Investment Promotion Minister, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa.

The Opposition’s election campaign was based on hatred which was clearly rejected by the masses, especially the traditional rural folk, he said.

The people had truly recognised the Mahinda Chinthana Idiri Dakma, the continuation of President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s policy of making Sri Lanka, the wonder of Asia in continuing the development programs already launched, said JHU General Secretary Ven. Omalpe Sobitha Thera.

The Ven. Thera said the Presidential Election 2010 was not a victory of a single person, but one achieved by all patriotic people.

The defeat of Sarath Fonseka was also a defeat for the anti-national conspirators, he said.

MEP leader and Urban Development and Sacred Area Development Minister and Chief Government Whip Dinesh Gunawardena said the victory of President Rajapaksa at the Presidential Election 2010 is a tribute by the patriotic people of Sri Lanka to the President’s dedication and commitment to defend the motherland against terrorism.

“Let us all consolidate the victory of the patriotic forces and give strength to President Mahinda Rajapaksa to lead the country to realise the goals of a developed nation”, he said.

NFF leader Wimal Weerawansa said he owes respect to the patriotic people of Sri Lanka for electing President Mahinda Rajapaksa for a second term which would enable him to embark on the development war.

He said the President won the Presidential Election 2010 with a landmark majority of 1.8 million votes as against his opponent Sarath Fonseka, registering a percentage of 58.88 out of the total votes polled.

He said the people above all had acknowledged the fact that the President fulfilled his pledge to eradicate terrorism and usher in a unitary Sri Lanka.