No one can make us bow down - President Rajapaksa

Excerpts of President Mahinda Rajapaksa's speech at the UPFA May Day rally at Campbell Park, Borella on Thursday.:

by Chaminda Perera

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday reiterated that the government will not bow down to any pressure and is not prepared to reverse the ongoing efforts to build the country under any circumstances.

“We will never bow down and no one can make us bow down,” he said.

The President said the presence of a massive crowd at the rally gives a message that they will never allow any force to overthrow this government, though some elements boast that they will forcibly grab power.

“No treacherous element in the country or foreign force can change the government as long as the working masses are with the government,” he said.

President Rajapaksa said the Opposition was working overnight to make use of the working masses in the North and South to implement what imperialist forces want to see in the country.

“The incidents at Rathupaswala, Katunavake and some other areas were aimed at the UNHRC session in Geneva,” he said. President Rajapaksa said the people in the country will not dance to their tunes.

He said they started creating these problems when the UNHRC session in Geneva was going on.

The President added that these forces wanted to bring these incidents to the international stage. “Sometimes our working masses are misled by these forces as the workers are shown a gloomy picture by them,” he said.

President Rajapaksa said he pioneered a launching of a Pada Yatra to the South against the barbarism and violence by the then government.

“Thousands of children and youth were killed those days. We took to the streets against these moves to save the lives of youths.”

He said a handful of UNP parliamentarians are visiting the South to reverse the development drive of the government.

The President said the UNP members visited the Mattala Airport and the Hambantota Harbour recently to close them down.

“The Secretary of that party had told that the Mattala Airport would be made a museum by them while the Hambantota Harbour would be turned into a swimming pool,” he said. President Rajapaksa said the difference between his party and the UNP is that his is committed to uphold the rights of the people while the UNP is trying to destroy the achievements made by the country in the field of development.

He said the UPFA government has the best opposition in the country.

The President said various political parties representing various communities are in the UPFA government and they are committed to developing the country while protecting the ideologies and policies of such parties.He said the government led by him has always solved the issues of Trade Unions through discussions.

“Our government stopped selling government assets, ensured the rights of the working masses and brought peace to the country while protecting all norms and practices of democracy.”

He said the government led by him has never suppressed protests.

The President said the government has allowed people to stage protest and marches.

“We have allowed others to criticise us too and even sling mud at us,” he said.

The President added that the working masses of the country have been receiving relief at every budget from 2005. The government increased the strength of the public service from 700,000 to 1.4 million.

He added that the previous government planned to prune the public service to 300,000.

The working masses have been able to celebrate May Day under one banner due to their commitment and dedication.

“We are reaping the benefits of the restraints and the commitment of the working masses,” he said.