The
fourth
anniversary
of the
assumption
of
office
as the
President
of the
Democratic
Socialist
Republic
of Sri
Lanka by
President
Mahinda
Rajapaksa
falls
today
(19
Nov).
Today is
a
significant
day
since
the
country
for the
first
time
celebrates
this
milestone
in an
independent
Sri
Lanka
where
terrorism
is
completely
wiped
out.
Mahinda
Rajapaksa,
a Member
of
Parliament,
a
Cabinet
Minister,
a Prime
Minister
and a
Human
Rights
activist
was
elected
as the
5th
Executive
President
of Sri
Lanka by
majority
vote in
the
Presidential
election
held in
November,
2005.
President
Rajapaksa
assumed
office
at a
time
when Sri
Lanka
had
entered
a
ceasefire
which
was
cited
only on
paper.
The LTTE
was on
the
brink of
carrying
out the
Fourth
Eelam
war.
President
Rajapaksa
had to
face the
challenge
of
leading
the
country
to
prosperity
while
the LTTE
was
still
active
in the
North
and
East.
One of
the
pledges
by
President
Rajapaksa
in his
election
manifesto
Mahinda
Chintana,
was to
unify
the
country
under
one
flag. He
worked
towards
realizing
this
goal by
inviting
the LTTE
for
talks.
Yet with
the
LTTE’s
continuous
stance
to
refuse
the
negotiating
table,
its many
attacks
on
civilians
and
political
leaders
and with
their
closing
of the
Mavil
Aru
sluice,
President
Rajapaksa
decided
combat
against
the LTTE
and
provide
relief
to the
people
in the
area so
that
they
could
have
water
for
cultivation
without
hindrance.
The
operations
were a
success
and this
was the
significant
point of
entry in
the
defeat
of LTTE.
Afterwards
the East
was
liberated
from the
LTTE in
July
2007 and
later
the
North in
May 2009
marking
the end
to
nearly
three
decades
of
conflict.
This was
done
under
much
international
pressures
and
domestic
political
conspiracies.
After
four
years in
office,
President
Rajapaksa
has been
able to
do what
most
believed
impossible
in such
a short
time
span.
Many did
not
believe
that the
President
will be
able to
fulfil
the aims
set
forth in
Mahinda
Chintana.
Yet,
President
Rajapaksa
did not
forget
the
development
goals
even
though
the
country
carrying
out its
humanitarian
operation
in the
North.
Many of
the
post-
conflict
development
projects
have
been
completed
and
others
in
progress.
Conflict
affected
areas in
the
North
and East
are
showing
excellent
results
in the
enhancement
of the
lives of
people
affected
by
conflict.
The rest
of the
country
too is
benefiting
from the
foreign
investments
increased
due to
the end
to
conflict.
President
Rajapaksa
is
committed
to
resettle
all
internally
displaced
civilians
in the
North.
His
initiatives
in this
regard
have
already
seen
considerable
international
assistance
to Sri
Lanka.
Currently
around
143,000
remain
in the
welfare
centres
out of
almost
280,000
that
escaped
from
LTTE
clutches
during
the
operations.
There
is also
a strong
commitment
by the
President
to move
towards
a
political
settlement
to the
issues
facing
the
communities
in the
North
and East
as well
as
applying
a "home
grown"
solution
which is
politically
inclusive
and
aimed at
ensuring
constitutional
guarantees
of
freedom
and
democracy
to all
communities.
He
has
initiated
several
major
infrastructure
development
projects,
among
which
are the
construction
of the
new
harbour
and
international
airport
at
Hambantota,
at least
four new
highways
linking
the
major
cities
of the
country,
a
coal-fired
thermal
power
station
at
Norochcholai
in the
North
Western
Province,
a
multi-fuel
thermal
power
station
at
Kerawalapitiya
in the
Western
Gampaha
District
and a
hydro-power
station
at Upper
Kotmale
in the
central
hills.
The
Government
is
paying
keen
interest
to
strengthen
the
rural
economy
with
increased
incentives
to
cultivators
and the
search
for new
markets
for
their
produce.
The
development
of Small
and
Medium
Enterprises
also
receives
considerable
importance
under
the
economic
policies
of the
Rajapaksa
presidency.
After
four
years of
ascending
to
Presidency,
President
Rajapaksa
was able
to steer
the
nation
to a
promising
new era.
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