Ideal leader for the whole country, says Chandrasekaran:

UPF decides to support President

by Ananth PALAKIDNAR

Minister of Community Development and Inequality Eradication Periyasamy Chandrasekaran commenting on his party's decision said that only President Rajapaksa could play a significant role in stabilising the integrity of the country and make it more vibrant with regard to development activities whereas the main opposition candidate has no agenda.

Minister Chandrasekeran commenting on his party's decision on extending its support to President Mahinda Rajapaksa told the Sunday Observer that the decision was taken after several rounds of talks they held with President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his senior advisor and Parliamentarian Basil Rajapaksa on the key issues of upcountry people and the minorities of the country. "We were satisfied with the issues that we tabled during the discussions. The creation of new housing schemes for the plantation community, their educational and job opportunities and also the issue of releasing Tamil detainees who were in prisons for a long period without any trial were some of the important issues that were brought to the notice of the President.

The outcome was very positive and therefore the UPF decided to extend its support to President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the forthcoming Presidential poll," Minister Chandrasekeran said.

Commenting on President Mahinda Rajapaksa's run for the second term in office Chandrasekeran said the President began his political career as a young Parliamentarian and remained a very promising personality.

When he became Prime Minister, the qualities of Statesmanship were very evident. As the executive President he remained a stable leader focusing more towards the equality of the minorities.

"As a leader of a key political party from the Upcountry, I am confident that President Rajapaksa with his enormous experience in politics could be the ideal leader for the whole country and for the minorities in particular. Therefore he is our choice for the Presidency," Chandrasekeran said.

Commenting on the main opposition alliance and its candidate for the Presidential poll Minister Chandrasekeran added that the alliance was a total mockery.

"We know the history of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna. Its `unholy' alliance with the United National Party reflects its ulterior motives and nothing else. The alliance or its candidate are not going to deliver anything constructive to the country.

Therefore the people should bring back President Rajapaksa to power to take the country towards a bright future," Chandrasekeran said.