Terrorism should not be tolerated in our region

By Shanika SRIYANANDA

Sri Lanka suffered for decades due to terrorism and many innocent sons and daughters were being killed. However from 2005, within two and half years the terror, that plagued Mother Sri Lanka, was gradually swept away until the world’s ruthless terrorists disappeared in the murky waters of the Nanthikadal lagoon bringing an end to their ‘separate State’ ambition.

Since 2009 May, Sri Lanka is beautifully and peacefully emerging from the devastation that swept her while terror is still sadly playing havoc with innocent lives in other nations.

The latest is the Mumbai attack on innocent civilians last Wednesday.

Sri Lanka’s committed and dedicated leader, who spearheaded the humanitarian mission to defeat the world’s most dangerous terrorists - the LTTE - was among the first world leaders who voiced against the Mumbai attack. He who, invited all nations to join hands with Sri Lanka to destroy terrorism when Sri Lanka was suffering from LTTE terror, has today invited all peace loving nations to get together to defeat terrorism.

“Terrorism should not be tolerated in our region and should not be allowed to raise its ugly head anywhere in any form or manifestation”, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa who strongly condemned the dastardly attacks on innocent civilians in Mumbai on Wednesday.

Issuing a statement immediately after the devastating attack he said the people of Sri Lanka stand in solidarity with the people of India and would continue to work collectively with the peace loving people of the region to eradicate terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have been wounded and those who lost their loved ones as a result of the violent attacks”, he said.

Banking

At the ceremony to give letters of appointment to 227 newly recruited Management Trainees for the People’s Bank held at the Temple Trees, President Rajapaksa said that any task could be successfully accomplished, if it was planned and implemented methodically like the strategy that the Government adopted to annihilate the ruthless LTTE which destroyed the country for over three decades.

“The economy of Sri Lanka stood resilient to the world economic crisis thanks to our well planned economic policies, while many other countries were undergoing severe economic problems”, he said.

He said the country’s economy was not affected by the global economic crisis as the Government had implemented timely and adequate measures during the crisis which affected economies of many countries.

“Similar to the country’s economy, the Sri Lankan banking sector has come forward to serve the nation, fulfilling the people’s aspirations despite the global economic crisis which engulfed the whole world a few years ago,” the President said.

The People’s Bank recruited 227 highly qualified graduates as management trainees in line with the 2011 budget proposals submitted in Parliament in November 2010 by President Rajapaksa as the Finance Minister. According to the budget proposals, 1,500 qualified graduates were to be recruited to state banks aiming to take these banks to great heights.

He said the Bank of Ceylon would also recruit a considerable number of qualified individuals in due course as management trainees. President Rajapaksa said the Government has rectified the former recruiting system by introducing a proper mechanism for recruiting officials for state services.

“Under this mechanism, a clear selection process is being implemented and therefore only suitable individuals are selected into the state sector. After 2005, the Government has recruited more than 80,000 individuals including 40,000 graduates. In due course another 15,000 will be recruited to the State sector,” he said.

The Government has allocated considerable funds for infrastructure development activities. Several power plants are being constructed aiming to provide electricity to every household. Roads are being carpeted throughout the country,” the President said.

“As everyone is aware, gravel roads have been converted into tarred-roads while most of the tar-roads have become carpet roads. The Government considers, infrastructure development is vital for the development of the country.

However, some elements with a narrow vision request international financial institutes such as the World Bank, IMF etc. not to assist Sri Lanka financially,” he said.President Rajapaksa said even though some complained about the Government’s plans to resettle IDPs, it is not a simple process that could be completed overnight. “They talk about war crimes, freedom of speech and human rights. But Sri Lanka is the only country which resettled nearly 290,000 IDPs within a two-year period. Only 10,000 IDPs are left to be resettled,” he said adding that the Government also has allocated considerable funds on infrastructure development that includes an endeavour to provide every household with electricity, and an islandwide project of road renovation.

He requested the new appointees to contribute their share to develop the country.

Paddy

President Rajapaksa met the Ministerial Sub Committee on Food Safety and Cost of Living Control and instructed them to find a viable mechanism for the purchase of paddy with the seasonal harvest expected to arrive in the open market by August.

While also directing their attention to ensure cold storage facilities to preserve fruits and vegetables, the President instructed them to inquire into those areas where such facilities are needed most. The meeting was held at Temple Trees on Tuesday.

At this meeting explaining about last month’s price trends, Consultant to the Ministerial Sub Committee Janaki Kuruppu said there was a significant drop in food prices in July and as the inflation had dropped to 7.1 percent, the prices could drop further to seven percent.

Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa stressed that a systematic strategy should be introduced to protect the farmer with the arrival of paddy harvests from Ampara, Batticaloa and Polonnaruwa to the open market. He said the Divi Neguma programme has resulted in a huge increase in vegetable production in the country.

It was also decided to hold discussions with milk powder importers considering the rise in the prices of infant milk food.

Discussions also focused on the progress made in providing plastic containers for fruits during transport which is to commence in August.

Dagoba

Sri Lanka’s first Dagoba made of brass and plated with gold is at the Sri Dharma Viharaya in Kalapaluwawa, Rajagiriya. This was unveiled by President Rajapaksa on Monday. This Dagoba which is 21 feet in height was constructed at the temple premises under the patronage of Chief Incumbent of the temple Ven. Dr. Delduwe Gnanasumana Thera. President Rajapaksa also unveiled the pinnacle of the Dagoba and the commemorative plaque to mark the opening of the Dagoba. The President made offerings to the newly unveiled Dagoba.

Meanwhile, President Rajapaksa said he would happily welcome all criticism aimed at exposing any lapses of the government in its objective to fulfil the people’s aspirations.

Galle

At the opening ceremony of the state-of-art new bus stand in Galle he said if there were conflicts with each other, that could affect the country’s development efforts.

The President said any one was welcome to point out the Government’s shortcomings but it should be done with a genuine intent without ulterior motives.

The new Galle bus stand was built at a cost of Rs. 42 million under the allocation given by the Economic Development Ministry. The bus stand with a computerised timetable system, in a two-storey complex has a shopping complex, a rest room and eatery.

He said he would at no time take offence at criticism meant to steer the Government in the right direction.

President Rajapaksa said people voted him to power with great expectations and he would fulfil this expectation by serving all without considering party politics, ethnic or religious differences. “There is no way that we can turn back from the chosen path but move ahead with the country’s progress in mind,” he stressed.

He recalled that the South in the past always received step-motherly treatment but today not only the South but the whole country was witnessing development on an equal level.

Development

The President also said at a ceremony to commence development of Pelawatte -Neluwa-Morawaka and Horawala-Pelawatte-Pitigala roads, which is done at a cost of Rs.6,500 million, that he would not let any one obstruct the country’s development.

“Obstructions, insults and political mud slinging would not deter us from taking the country on the path of development, as long as the masses are with us”, he said adding that the Government had completed extensive development of roads throughout the country.

President Rajapaksa said the roads which were only covered with soil before, had become concrete and carpeted roads today and the road development was not confined to one area but was taking place in every Divisional Secretariat in the country.

The Pelawatte-Morawaka road, developed to two lanes, which links Southern and Western Provinces is 47 Km in length.

It has a width of 8.2 metres. The cost of the project is Rs.4,000 million.

The Horawela-Pelawatte-Pitigala road is 25 Km in length and its width is 8.2 metres. The cost of the project is Rs.1,478 million. Both road development projects are done under the financial support by the Chinese Government.