Confident of two-third majority to form sturdy government:

People stood by me at all times - President

Villages see tremendous development:

by Chaminda Perera in Nuwara Eliya

President Mahinda Rajapaksa pointed out that the United People’s Freedom Alliance will win with a two-third majority, in order to form a strong government to spearhead the development process without any hindrance. President Rajapaksa was addressing a mammoth gathering at the Nuwara Eliya race course grounds yesterday.

In his address he said that the people of this country stood by him always and had be not been re-elected in the Presidential election last month, he would have been either put behind bars or six feet under.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa said that his Government did not obtain credit facilities to import food. The credit facilities were utilized by the Government to bring dividends of development to the villages which have been neglected over the years.

The Government gave all facilities to the farmers to enhance cultivation in the country.

The farmers undertook the responsibility of cushioning the impact of global food crisis efficiently and they succeeded. We utilized credit facilities for the development of the country. The villagers have seen tremendous development in the fields of health, education and infrastructure during the last four years, he added.

President Rajapaksa said that the Government was still paying back the debts taken by the previous administrations to import food. He said the Government has to pay for the credit taken by the previous regimes to purchase wheat flour.

Several major food producing countries imposed restrictions on the export of their excess food production during the height of the global food crisis.

However, Sri Lanka launched the construction of new harbours, international airports, power generation plants the main requirements for the country’s development, he said.

He said that the children in the estate sector should have access to better education and the government. is committed to create a better future for them.

The children in the estate sector and the country at large should be able to stand as equals with children indeveloped countries he said.

Ministers C. B. Ratnayake, Armugam Thondaman, Navin Dissanayake and Deputy Minister V. Puthrasigamony were present at the rally.