President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday asserted that he would never hesitate to front up to challenges or take any decisions which would ultimately benefit the people and the country.
He said that such an attitude had paved the way in realizing another challenging promise in the Mahinda Chinthana for a second fully fledged international Airport for the country.
He was speaking after inaugurating the construction of Sri Lanka’s second international airport in Mattala, Hambantota.
President Rajapaksa also lamented that regimes since independence had lacked the courage to take such bold decisions and this had ultimately hurt the country and its people.
The President pointed out that Sri Lanka’s location as a transhipment hub was not fully utilized as previous regimes had failed to construct necessary sea and air ports.
“But now in addition to the Airports, five harbours too are coming up simultaneously.”
“Now we have to rectify these mistakes and we are taking necessary steps to do so,” he added.
The President added that his regime was not prepared to engage in politics harping on the past misdeeds but was prepared to look ahead with a positive outlook.
“We have prepared our plans for the present as well as to suit the country’s needs 30-40 years ahead,” he added.
He also said that one should not think it demeaning act to reverse decisions if it was subsequently found to be incorrect. “When we found that the land in the original proposal to construct the airport in Weeravila were fertile paddy fields, we changed the location.”
As such we would also never hesitate to take decisions or revise them if necessary for the benefit of the people.
“It is not the location that matters but the deed,” he said adding that benefits of such development projects would reach the length and breadth of the country and would supplement the national economy.
He said that development would not be confined to one province but would have equal distribution including the North and East which had been lagging in this aspect during the past 30 years.
The President also pointed out that friendly nations had always stood by Sri Lanka and had helped it in its quest to usher viable development.
The President pointed out that bold decisions taken by the Government in the face of heavy international and local opposition too had proven a point in the recent past that this regime was not prepared to bow down in the face of injustice and back decisions which would hurt the country and the people.
He assured the people that he would ensure equal rights, facilities and opportunities to all Sri Lankans citizens irrespective of any differences. He invited like-minded to join in this quest and assure the future generations a bright and prosperous future.
The Chinese Ambassador speaking on behalf of her Government said that as a long-standing friend of Sri Lanka her country was always prepared to back such mega development projects in the future as well.
“A friend in need is a friend in deed,” she said while adding that China was such a friend of Sri Lanka. Ports and Aviation Minister Chamal Rajapaksa, Chairman of Airport and Aviation Authority Prasanna Wickremasuriya, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China Yang Xiuping and Secretary to the Ministry of Ports and Aviation Ranjith De Silva also spoke.
Several Cabinet Ministers, Tri-Forces commanders, the IGP, officials of the Air Port and Aviation Services, Local politicians, the clergy and the public took part.
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Presidential Election on January 26
Saturday, 28 November 2009
Nominations will be accepted from 9.00 a.m to 11.00 a.m on December 17, Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake announced yesterday. This will be the country’s fifth Presidential poll to elect the sixth Executive President.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa who is the incumbent in office decided to go for a Presidential election though his term of office expires only two years later in November 2011.
When he met the media at Temple Trees on Thursday morning he said he chose to seek a fresh mandate for a second term on the request of the party supporters and people.
Objections against nominations can be raised from 9.00 am to 11.30 on the same day. Objections to the nomination papers could be raised by any of the rival candidates or by persons who had signed the nomination paper, the official release said.
All candidates of recognized political parties should make deposits of Rs 50,000 and independent candidates Rs 75,000 before noon on the day of the nominations with the Accountant (Finance) of the Department of Elections.
It is mandatory that a candidate other than those of recognized political parties should confirm that he/she had been elected a member of the legislature by a letter signed by the Secretary-General of Parliament, the official release said.
The 2008 electoral register will be used for the election with a total number of 14,088,500 persons eligible to vote.
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Doubts surface on Gen.Fonseka's statements - Minister Rambukwella
Saturday, 28 November 2009
“There are doubts about the morality over the statements made by the retired Chief of Defence staff (CDS) Gen.Sarath Fonseka”, Defense Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said at a media conference yesterday.
The Defence Spokesman pointed out that Fonseka made certain comments with regard to some injustices and irregularities and went to the extent of calling it indiscipline.
The General has cited a case where at midnight on 26 November or the day before, certain persons had knocked at his door requesting for the removal of his vehicles which was far from the truth,Minister Rambukwella said.
On Friday, Military Spokesman,Brig.Udaya Nanayakkara rejected this accusation of the former CDS Chief and pointed out that the visit was made with the prior permission from the General's house.
He said that when a person has relinquished his duties, he was not entitled for an official residence.
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All schools in Vavuniya back to students
Saturday, 28 November 2009
All schools in Vavuniya that have been used as temporary shelters for the displaced civilians are now open for educational activities. A total of 18 schools in Vavuniya have been used as temporary shelters for the civilians who were liberated from the terrorists, Governor of the Northern Province G.A.Chandrasiri said.
He pointed out that a majority of the displaced civilians in those schools have been now resettled . Some have been sent to other welfare centers.
The Governor said the measure was taken to free the schools to provide proper educational facilities to the children in welfare villages.
According him around 70,000 children who were displaced with their parents have been resettled in their native villages. Currently there are 35 thousand children who receive school education.
The Governor revealed that extra classes were now being held for the benefit of children in relief villages who are sitting the G.C.E. Ordinary Level Examination next month
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Lalith Weeratunga elaborates on Mahinda Chintana success story
Saturday, 28 November 2009
There are 611 plans in the Mahinda Chintana. Around75 percent of dignified peace assured has been achieved. 450 small, medium and large scale projects have been completed, President’s Secretary Lalith Weeratunga revealed these facts at a media briefing held at Temple Trees week.
He observed that this was the first time that the Mahinda Chintana had been considered as a policy statement which had been presented as a programme of the Government.
It became the initial plan of the Government’s activities. All officers were involved in discharging the tasks.
The President’s Secretary opined that he was happy to mention that all pledges given in the Mahinda Chintana have been fulfilled.
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