Country moving towards economic revolution

By Shanika SRIYANANDA

May 19- every year this day will herald the message to the world that ‘nothing is impossible’. The leader who believes that ‘nothing is impossible’ stands tall each moment when the country celebrates the anniversary of defeating ruthless terrorists - the LTTE- which turned the country into a bloodbath.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has all the reasons to be proud of his will and commitment that proved that in recent history, terrorism can be defeated.

Yesterday marked the third anniversary of the annihilation of the deadly LTTE terrorists and the lives of over 300,000 Tamils who were kept under the LTTE’s iron force were saved and has embarked on his second mission to bring reconciliation to everyone.

“The ability to unite the Motherland under a single banner offers us a great sense of pride. It is also a pride and a sense of dignity to the entire nation. The greatest sacrifice of the era towards this achievement was made by war heroes of the three Forces, Police and the Civil Defence Force. We reminisce this feat time and again due to the honour and respect we have for them.

“This supreme freedom has extended to all areas of the motherland. To make it more meaningful and the country has taken steps towards achieving real development. Here too the nation receives great support and strength from the war heroes.

‘It is a pleasure to note that they are taking the same amount of effort to support the steps taken to achieve economic freedom in the same vein and strength that they offered in defeating terrorism.“I believe that the greatest tribute we could pay our gallant War Heroes is to rebuild the nation by diverting the liberated country on the correct path towards an economic miracle. Similarly, we have given top priority towards the welfare of war heroes.

That is why separate villages have been set up dedicated for them. Opening of special schools as other welfare measures are being taken for their benefit because it has been identified as a natural duty.”“We should also pay tribute to the families and relatives of War Heroes who dedicated their lives on behalf of the country.”he said in his message.

Meanwhile, President Rajapaksa requested the Heads of Sri Lankan media organisations to act in a responsible manner and requested their co-operation in not allowing communal elements to raise their head in the country.

“We reject all types of communalism, be it Sinhalese, Tamil or Muslim. We will not let any communal force raise its head in Sri Lanka,” he said.

Reconciliation

President appealed to all media heads not to promote communal elements in any way through their newspapers, television channels and radios since it would be detrimental to Sri Lanka’s progress and its reconciliation process. President Mahinda Rajapaksa said his wish was to see all Sri Lankans living in peace and harmony after he eradicated terrorism from Sri Lanka.

President Rajapaksa said media has a larger responsibility to establish reconciliation on the racial and religious levels and urged the media to create reconciliation rather than emotional tension when reporting on issues highly sensitive in nature to the public.

Addressing nurses the President said Sri Lanka was in the lead among countries meeting the welfare needs of the people and asked the nurses to fulfill their obligations and responsibilities and serve on behalf of the people.

“Sri Lanka stands among the worlds best, when it came to implementing welfare measures to support the economic and social well-being of its citizens.

Commenting on the extensive reach of free health care, the President said that even a foreigner could walk into any State-run hospital in Sri Lanka and obtain health services free of charge”, he said adding that there is a wide range of State funded welfare programmes in Sri Lanka to support the public.

Marking the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale who laid the foundation of professional nursing, the 2012 International Nurses Day function under the theme “Closing the Gap: From Evidence to Action” was held at Temple Trees.

The President pointed out to free and universal education and health care, subsidised fertiliser and other agricultural utensils, Samurdhi benefits, pensions and a wide range of public sector programmes and added that these have contributed to improving the quality of life.

“Nursing is not a job limited to a salary. It is a service,” President Rajapaksa stressed that discussions were always suited than strikes to win the rights of workers.

“The nurses must act with dedication to maintain a qualitative nursing service” the President said.

Expressing optimism that the nurses would fulfill their responsibilities, the President said his Government is always dedicated to provide a quality health service without being restricted to physical development.

Welfare measures

He said while funding such welfare measures the Government also spends monies for development and to generate employment. and added that however some people have failed to understand the enormity of this task.

“Earlier there had been plans to curtail the strength of the public sector below 600,000 and added that instead of reducing the numbers, the present government had taken steps to increase the State sector employees to over 1.3 million. The government has given maximum resources including necessary manpower to supplement the health sector as well”, he said adding that whatever obstacles lay in its path, the government was determined to overcome them and fulfill its duty by the people.“We have a duty to make this country a better place not only for the present but the future generations as well”, he added.

On the service provided by the nurses, the President noted that they have won the admiration of the public due to their efficiency and the quality of service they provide. Commending their service said it was one sector he has not received any complaints, alleging the acceptance of bribes in exchange of services.

He urged the nurses to solve any issues faced by them through dialogue and added that their union headed by Ven. Murutettuwe Ananda Thera was doing yeomen service in this regard.

President Rajapaksa told nurses to consider their duty as a service than a profession. “Consider it as a service to the public and the nation” he said.

It was at the Highways Ministry progress review meeting President Rajapaksa said that roads should be constructed in a manner wharepedestrians could use them. Express ways should be constructed without interrupting the relationship between villages on either side.

He chaired the meeting said road construction projects should be given to well experienced institutions so that defects in construction would be minimal.

President Rajapaksa emphasised the need for the frequent survey of road construction projects by officials and the need for concern on the security of animals and not to interrupt their natural behaviour when roads are constructed through sanctuaries.

“ It is suitable to construct an underpass from Galle Face to Kollupitiya to add beauty and reduce traffic congestion.

There is a need for a road from Colombo to Battaramulla to travel in ease.

The road construction plans should be formulated leaving space for further widening when the need arises.

The income generated by the projects under Maga Naguma should be utilised for social welfare”, he said.