Political News | Sundayobserver.lk

With a few days more for the Local Government polls, President Mahinda Rajapaksa held several political campaigns starting from Kegalle in support of the UPFA candidates contesting the LG polls, this week.

He had highlighted the government’s development targets and called upon the people to support the government at the forthcoming LG polls to achieve set development targets.

At a public rally held last Sunday, President Rajapaksa said the government has launched a program to promote home gardening as a precaution against the future food crisis.

Though some people have said that this election is the first step towards toppling the government, there is time for such a course of action. We have created an environment where people can enjoy freedom, free of terror. We restored peace while facing many challenges and none of them could deter us until we achieve it after defeating the 30-year-old terrorism. Defeating terrorism was our top priority and we achieved it without leaving room for any forces to stop us.

Today the Opposition is doing politics not with people living here but also with those living abroad according to their whips and fancies.

The Opposition is on a “fact-finding mission” to see whether we have committed any “war crimes” during the battle against terrorism. They try to use their findings against us. We know the people will not allow them to take us before any international court as we have not committed any such crimes during the battle against LTTE terror. The people reposed their trust in us.

President Rajapaksa said the government, which gave serious thought development launched its development projects while being engaged in the humanitarian operation. “We implemented infrastructure projects to provide electricity, construct new roads, highways, bridges and irrigation projects. I am happy that there are no power cuts today and 24-hour electricity supply is assured for the entire country.

There is speedy development in every district. The living standard of each family has improved. For over 55 years since Independence, the per capita income remained at US $ 1,000 today it has gone up to US $ 2,000. Our aim is to increase this to US $ 4,000 soon.

We have also launched a program to improve the economic standards of families through the One Million Home Gardens Project. Each family will get Rs. 10,000 under this project. We want to make a change in each family by encouraging them to grow vegetables and fruits they need so that we need not have to import these food items.

Suitable candidates

President Rajapaksa addressing UPFA candidates of the Ratnapura district stressed the importance of electing people who understand the problems of villagers .

“The living standards of all communities should be improved to ensure permanent peace and develop the country. We have a long way to go! The government which accelerated development, has solved the people’s problems. We have completed all massive power projects to ensure a 24-hour power supply and improved infrastructure facilities. By 2012. all households in the country will be provided with electricity. Over 90 percent of the houses in the Ratnapura district have been provided electricity. We will solve the water problem by supplying pipe-borne water. The government has invested heavily on education and health. The government’s main objective is to uplift the living standards of the people.

There are some issues which are beyond government control. Paddy, vegetables and other crop cultivations suffered heavy losses due to the recent floods but the government took a decision to continue the fertilizer subsidy for paddy, tea, rubber and coconut to encourage farmers.

President Rajapaksa said that while developing the country, the ‘family units’ too will to improved and that is why the one million home gardening project was launched. LG institutions too have a great responsibility in making this project a success. LGs need to solve the problems at village level. Those who are elected to LGs need to have adequate knowledge about the problems in their own villages. The LGs don’t have a sufficient financial provision.

Any one can do politics and it is his right.

When we were in the Opposition, we never carried out anti-government propaganda abroad demanding not to grant aid to Sri Lanka. Today those who cannot stomach our victory over terrorism and the development drive are spreading rumours to tarnish our hard earned achievements.

They accuse the government of committing ‘war crimes’ and try to take me and the Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa before the International War Tribunal to punish us. However as long as the people are with us their efforts would be futile.

President Rajapaksa called upon the candidates not to clash with their own candidates for the chairmanship of local bodies since the chairmen would be elected according to the party decision.

“Talk about the development programs implemented by this government to uplift the lives of the villagers. People will then vote for you”, President Rajapaksa said.

Women in development

The ceremony organised by the SLFP to mark the ‘International Women’s Day’ was held last Monday with the participation of President Rajapaksa and India’s Uttarakhand State Governor Margaret Alva.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa said that the government was committed to serve all people in Sri Lanka irrespective of ethnic, religious or cultural differences and added that the benefits of development should reach all citizens be it the North, South, East or West.

“We are one nation, we must treat everyone equally”, he told the Mannar district rally under the theme Sapiri Gamak-Supiri Ratak (a contented village, a self-sufficient nation).

He called upon people to strengthen the UPFA at the Local Government polls on March 17 to launch village development projects to fulfil the government’s massive development mission in the post- conflict Sri Lanka.

The President who called upon people to rally round the UPFA to defeat the Western-oriented elite who are against the development of the villages, said the Opposition which was so weak to go before the masses had launched conspiracies to betray the motherland by spreading false propaganda abroad.

“But, I know patriotic people will not be deceived by these forces”, he said.

The President said the SLFP is the only political party which is committed to protect the rights of women. The indomitable courage and commitment of the late Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike took the SLFP to great heights. Sri Lankan women played a vital role throughout the history. Our women take the lead in literacy, education, intelligence and even tolerance. The SLFP which produced the world’s first Prime Minister will always guarantee the rights of women and also respect women”. He declared the attack by UNP activists on a pregnant UPFA candidate contesting the Mahara Pradeshiya Sabha polls.

“This kind of political culture cannot be condoned and we should put an end to that by improving the women’s role in politics.

During the three-decade LTTE terror women suffered the most. I still remember how mothers cried and begged to save their children’s lives during 1988-89. I always had the blessings of women, who supported our political agenda to restore peace. The majority of people who voted for me were women and I always pay my gratitude to them.

As a responsible government we are committed to develop the country from the South to the North to ensure a better life for women who suffered for long due to terrorism. We had taken a decision to put an end to smoking and alcohol to give relief to women who suffered immensely at the hands of men, who were addicts to smoking, drinking and drugs”, he said. The President called upon women to contribute their efforts to develop the country as they did during the war against terrorism by sending their sons, daughters and husbands to the battlefront.

“Women have a vital role to play in this new era to mould the character of their children with good moral values. As the government has embarked on a massive development drive aimed at uplifting the lives of children and women the women bear the responsibility of bringing up decent children. I always believe that women play a lead role in reforming the society and it applies to my family too”, he said adding that the contribution of women to develop the country would be a blessing.

President Rajapaksa told a gathering of UPFA candidates in Moneragala that the Pradeshiya Sabhas need to be strengthened to solve the problems at village level while people should vote for the right person who could look into their grievances.

He said the unity among the candidates was vital for victory.

“Today, the UPFA government which is on a strong footing, has 161 parliamentarians in its fold. We have united the country by defeating enemy forces. The government is committed to provide electricity to each and every household in the country even with solar energy. The government is fully committed to develop the country, he said outlining the development programs launched, by the UPFA government to construct roads, provide water, health and educational facilities at village level.

“The government will not limit development only to the cities but also extend to all villages from the North to the South and from the East to the West”. The Government is committed to ensure a better future for the children. He said that the LG polls was the best opportunity for people to select their leaders at village level. President Rajapaksa on his arrival in Mannar, was warmly welcomed by the people who suffered for decades under the grip of the LTTE.

He said that the country had suffered a 30-year setback due to LTTE terrorism and the UPFA government had embarked on a mission to develop the country in the post-conflict era. The government has given priority to develop the North under the Uthuru Wasanthaya (Northern Spring) and no one can call the North a less privileged or backward area”.

We had launched development projects while combatting terrorism. People in the North are today to engage in their day to day activities.

Fishing has resumed and the Government has taken steps to solve the problems faced by fishermen. “We must sponsor projects to develop the villages. The government has already launched a project for one million domestic economic units to convert a family into a domestic economic unit. Our aim is to strengthen the economic status of families’, the President said.

At present the Government provides subsidised fertiliser to paddy, rubber, coconut and tea cultivations. “I have instructed the officials to extend this facility to vegetable cultivators as well. We want to ensure that all farmers would get subsidised fertiliser without any hassle. They don’t have to fill forms or spend too much time”, he said.

Fertiliser would be available everywhere at the same price.

President Rajapaksa said that the government has embarked on a program to build temples, kovils, mosques and churches and others destroyed during the LTTE terror. We need your support to re-build the nation to ensure a better future for your children. The government has taken every step to restore lost education opportunities of children and all the damaged schools will be refurbished with modern facilities.

“Our aim is to create a better environment for your children to continue their studies to face any challenge and win the world.

We need to be united to achieve these targets and defeat the forces which are still trying to destabilise the country.

What the people should do is to choose the team which could best attend to their needs and fulfil their expectations.

The UPFA has nominated a good team who could work for the people and it is your responsibility to bring victory to the ‘Betal Leaf” to develop your villages, he said.

Addressing the Matale UPFA conference the President said that the village development is a vital component of national development. That is why we have given priority to promote the status of the farmers by providing them with a fertiliser subsidy, seeds, new technology, a stable price for their products, assistance to boost production and water facilities.

The President said that the country is enjoying today, the benefits of its development policies as the people no longer depend on food imports. “As a result we no longer have to wait for food from abroad. Even when the fertiliser prices increased, the government continued to provide a bag of fertiliser for Rs. 350 in keeping with its pledge to the electorate. The UPFA government never failed to fulfil the promises it gave the people. We freed the country from terrorism as we pledged,” he said.

President Rajapaksa called upon the people to vote for the UPFA government at the forthcoming LG polls to help execute its development priorities.

The President said that Pradeshiya Sabha representatives should get involved in village development and it was their responsibility to work as an intermediary between the government and the local bodies to obtain the resources to facilitate for village development.

Village development

The President told the UPFA Nuwara Eliya District conference that the UPFA government did not grope in the dark.

He said that the government’s aim was to encourage local industries and strengthen agriculture to boost the local economy and improve the income earning capacity of the people.

“We have clear vision to realise our objectives. We concluded the humanitarian mission successfully and ushered in freedom to those in the grip of terrorism. Our next target is to usher in prosperity. We have targeted to provide electricity to all by 2012 and we would definitely achieve it”.

“Today even in the most backward areas, carpeted or concrete roads have been built. We have provided better health facilities. Estate hospitals are now managed by the government. Nowhere in the world have free education and health facilities been provided to the people as we have done.

“We consider all these as an investment for the future to uplift the living standards of the people and develop the country and ensure prosperity for present and future generations,” he said.

President Rajapaksa who called upon the people to rally round the UPFA and ensure its victory at the forthcoming LG polls said, “Ensure the victory of the village, I’ll develop he country”.

At a meeting held in support of the UPFA Kurunegala candidates, the President pledged to build a country where all Sri Lankans could live without any differences.

Conduct the political campaign in a disciplined and democratic manner and elect only those who could develop the village, the President said. This is not an election to effect a change but an election to elect the most suitable persons who can work for their peers.

The government laid the foundation to develop the country while combating, several anti-government forces which tried to divide the country who now try to hamper the government programs to develop the country”. The government will develop the country without aiming at winning the elections as it is committed and dedicated to usher in prosperity to the people.

At the UPFA Puttalam District Conference President Rajapaksa expressed the government’s willingness to safeguard and develop State assets instead of selling them.

Denying the claims by the Opposition that the government was trying to sell the Hilton Hotel he said they were only rumours to gain political mileage.

“This is a total canard, we would never sell it. Now the property is fully owned by the government. We do not sell State property. This is why we took back SriLankan Airlines, the Insurance Corporation and also set up new State enterprises such as Mihin Lanka. We have never sold State property and Banks to sustain the Government. Our approach for development is based on a comprehensive plan with State enterprises as key stakeholders”, he said.

President Rajapaksa recalled how the Opposition, when in power, sold State properties without considering its impact on the country.