Book on President launched in Australia

A biographical book titled "A World Leader with Forty Years of Political Experience" has been published in Australia to coincide with the swearing-in of President Mahinda Rajapaksa for the second term. Authored by Gamini Perera, Chairman of International Relations, Sri Lanka Study Centre for Advancement of Technology and Social Welfare, Australia and President Sri Lanka Freedom Party, Melbourne branch, the full-colour book chronicles the life and times of President Rajapaksa. Gamini Perera's valuable book gives a vivid picture about President Mahinda Rajapaksa's rise from his college days to the Executive Presidency. The Kesbewa by-election, his tenure as Minister of Labour, fifth Executive President, diplomatic war, Sri Lanka emergence as the "Wonder of Asia", Hambantota port, the defeat of terrorism, foreign relations of Sri Lanka, highlights of President's speeches at the UN are covered extensively in the book.

This book is illustrated throughout and carries a series of rare photos of President Rajapaksa with the leaders of India, China, Russia, Maldives and the Secretary General of UN.

Although the author is domiciled in Australia he has been keeping track of Sri Lanka's political, social and economic development under the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

In his introduction author Gamini Perera has stated that Sri Lanka is seeing a new era of peace and prosperity under the leadership of President Rajapaksa.

"His exceptional handling of some of the tensest situations in Sri Lanka's history is proof that he is a great President and a leader with inspirational motivation. The President did not hesitate to take a determined stand on behalf of the people when many Western countries were applying pressure on Sri Lanka to stop the war."

The book notes that the President has come a long way in his political career spanning more than 40 years, serving the people of Sri Lanka with utmost commitment, dedication, honesty and integrity.

In his foreword to the book, Prof. Priyantha Mendis of Melbourne University, Australia says, "Gamini Perera is well qualified to write on the great leader President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

During the 1960s he himself had the opportunity to meet Rajapaksa, when Gamini was the President then of the Colombo Student's Council and the President of the Inter-University Federation.

I had the opportunity to work with Gamini on several very successful projects. In June 2009 Gamini and I had organised a forum at the Melbourne University under the themed Mahinda Chinthana - "A roadmap for peace and development of Sri Lanka."

A concise read, the book is a useful resource for students of politics, school students and all other readers keen to learn about one of the most significant phases of contemporary history.

- L.S.Ananda Wedaarachchi