President Mahinda Rajapaksa asserted that after the lapse of a prolonged period of absolute tolerance and patience and failed negotiations with the LTTE, his Government eventually responded in the language best understood by the terrorists with the strong resolve of not turning back until the very last terrorist is captured.

“We will fight the war until every citizen, regardless of his ethnicity, Sinhalese, Tamil, Muslim, Burgher or Malay, has the right to live in his Motherland, sans fear nor suspicion, in perfect harmony and unity,” the President reiterated.

President pointed out that it was by no means an easy task and they would have to face daunting challenges and obstacles as they proceed. They would however end up victoriously.

Outlining briefly the sequence of events that transpired since his assumption to office on November 19 up to the closure of the Mavil Aru Anicut by the LTTE, the President pointed out that the people gave him a mandate to re-unite the entire country and make it stable and secure.

From then onwards, the gallant Armed Forces have consolidated themselves and achieved victory after victory and defeated the terrorists.

President Rajapaksa opined that as envisioned in the Mahinda Chintanaya, his Government shifted development which was confined only to the Western Province, mainly Colombo and its suburbs, to the village to uplift the living standards of the village polity too.

Based on this policy, the villagers are now able to fetch enhanced prices for their produce such as Tea, Rubber and other minor crops. They now have fully concreted roads in their villages.

After completion of the main roads his Government has now embarked on a programme to construct all roads at the Provincial Council level. The Government has set aside a colossal sum of Rs 3,000 million for this.

Other Development programmes such as ‘Gama Neguma’ and ‘Maga Neguma’ are also in progress. Several employment-generating programmes in the sphere of tourism among others, are also in the pipeline.