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The President, who stands tall among all world leaders as the one who completely annihilated terrorism, said that some elements with vested interests try to fix the government, which saved thousands of civilians suffered under the LTTE terror, for war crime allegations on spurious accounts. “We ended the 30-year-old carnage and restored peace and today people live without fear and terror. While thousands of youth, from the South and the North, sacrificed their precious lives for the country, we put an end to that carnage that destroyed the future of the country and hindered its development. During our first few years of power we destroyed the LTTE terrorism. “This is the time that the country is heading for development. We have given priority to develop the North and the East which were destroyed by the LTTE. Development was lagging behind for the last 30-years and it is time to rise from the disaster to develop the country, he said. Addressing a gathering of over 3,000 midwives at the Temple Trees to mark the International Midwifery Day, President Rajapaksa said though there were no substantial evidence to prove that the Sri Lankan military committed war crimes, those with vested political and monetary interests try to gain mileages by issuing reports detrimental to the hard-earned victory against terrorism. “They do not talk about how the government rehabilitated thousands of ex-LTTE cadres and resettled nearly 300,000 people in the North. The face -to-face confrontation by the heroic soldiers to destroy the world’s ruthless terrorist has become a war crime. The government will not be shaken by such allegations as we ended terrorism in the right manner, he said. President Rajapaksa called upon all patriotic Sri Lankans to rally around the government to defeat these forces and take the development drive forward. Commending the services rendered by the midwives the President recalled how his own mother was given instructions and looked after by the midwife in the Palatuwe village at each child birth. He said that the midwives carry the responsibility of helping the mothers to raise healthy and productive children and thanked them for helping the country to top in the south Asian region in maintaining better child and maternity care rates. “Today we are talking about children and the need to concentrate more on alleviating mal-nutrition, which is also a government responsibility. We have the responsibility of providing nutritious food for children from their small days since a healthy childrens’ population forms the country’s future. You have a great responsibility in promoting the home garden concept to grow vegetables in your home gardens to improve the nutritional levels. President Rajapaksa presented awards to midwives for their outstanding contributions. At a meeting held with the officials of the Ministry of Ports and Highways at the Temple Trees, the President instructed them to expedite the construction work of the Southern Express way before August.The Expressway, which allows a maximum speed of 100Km per hour, will have 11 entry and exit ramps and will reduce the travel time between Colombo and Matara by two and a half hours from the present four hours. The Construction of the express way began in 2006 at a cost of $600 million. The Asian Development Bank and the Japan International Cooperation Agency are providing financial assistance for the project. Our Children had been a source of strength during the humanitarian operation. They encouraged our heroes by collecting drinking water bottles and dispatching them to the battle front. Such contributions, could be used similarly to rebuild the country as well. Re-building a country is a great challenge for which we need strong and courageous people. We need people who love their country, President Rajapaksa said at the prize-giving ceremony of the Royal College Colombo held this week. He said the Sri Lankan children should have the strong conviction that they have inherited the qualities of great people who had worked for the country. “Please read the biographies of the great products of your college. Renowned people like Anagarika Dharmapala and Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan are but a few of them who were committed to serve the country, he said. What I have noticed during my participation in your school ceremonies is that your College has properly identified the needs of the country and implemented various programmes to impart the necessary knowledge to its students. Your college has emerged among the 30 best colleges in Computer technology in the world. There is an allegation that the gap between children and this parents has widened with the introduction of the computer. Today parents could assess the progress of their children at the school, via the computer. That is the way Royalist have enhanced the harmony between the school and home through the computer. However, I notice that Royalists have not become mere slaves of the computer. They have dissociated with the misconception that the future of the entire country depends on the computer. Children should be brought up in a way that suits our country. Whether you are in the computer era, or you have orbited the space you cannot, afford to neglect the needs of your country. This is the time to build our country for the sake of the younger generation, he said. The President said that the children have an important duty to perform in the context of the country’s development ‘You have to contribute your mite in a pragmatic way and not as mere observers. It is with the intention of developing the country through the one million Housing Economic Units that we launched under the Divi Neguma. You all can participate in that endeavour. Royal College has come second in the school garden competition. Do not forget that the Royalists from the time of yore, are experienced farmers. It is time that you should concentrate on the development of the country. I have heard a song which says, May rate minissu thanikara kelinne pissu. However the songs composed in the days goneby, such as Loken uthum rata Lankawai, have served a great deal during our fight for national freedom. Please remember that the songs disgracing the country could help those who are bent on dividing the motherland. Your way of thinking has a tremendous impact upon the country. Similarly what you write or what you speak also affect the country. Today your country is inconvenienced a lot due to false rumours. Only you can stop such rumours, he said. Children from the four corners of the country, are present here. It is a privilege to have such a rare opportunity to learn how to respect other’s religions too from a tender age. It makes easy for you to co-exist with others irrespective of differences such as race, religion or social standing, he said. We have many examples to follow in respecting others views and upholding human rights. King Dutugemunu decreed that no one should make a noise, wear shoes or hats when passing the grave of king Elara. The Royal decree was strictly followed by our chieftains even at the moment of retreating in the course of the rebellion of 1818. You are quite aware of what is found underneath the great walls, gigantic pyramids and other historic monuments of the world. It is the blood and sweat of millions of slaves, and the bones and skeletons of men. Also you know what is enshrined in the Ruwanweli Dagoba which is one of the most dignified monuments. King Dutugemunu directed that the labour spent on building Ruwanweliseya be paid. Even a Buddhist monk who made his contribution by laying a brick through devotion, was paid. The great King donated a Dagoba to the priest in lieu of wages. We have an exemplary history of humane qualities. Such qualities must be practised by each an every person in this country. |
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