"I would secure a brighter future for the present and future generations, in the way I ended the war to restore peace”, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing at the inaugural UPFA Presidential election rally at Salgado grounds, Anuradhapura.

The President pointed out that when he took over in 2005 the country was at the threshold of being a divided nation.

“Certain elements had planned to divide this country. They were scheming both locally and outside. We did not have a strong government at that time. The Security Forces morale was very low,” he said.

“With the help of others, I built a strong Government, changed the attitude of the people towards the Security Forces from one of negativeness to a positive outlook and carried out the most arduous exercise of eradicating terrorism in the country,” he further said.

“We also had to face the repercussions of a global economic recession and a food scarcity. However we were able to withstand them with resolve and emerge unscathed.

When the Tigers kept attacking innocent villages we were with them. I came to Kebithigollewa to share their grief when the bus was attacked.

We re-established the confidence of the farmers by giving them support. We provided fertilizer at the reduced price of Rs 350 when the prices soared to Rs 850 and later to Rs 9,000”, stressed the President.

“We also obtained loans and assistance from outside to help the people but we did not bow down to any conditions”.

The President noted that he was seeking re-election even though he had two more years to complete his term as he had successfully completed the promises he had given, when he was elected for the first time.

He said the people assigned him with a special task of reuniting the Motherland and he was able to achieve what the people expected from him. The country is going for a Presidential election for the first time after terrorism was wiped out from the country, he added.

Incidentally, President Rajapaksa launched his successful election campaign for Presidential stakes in 2005 from the sacred city of Anuradhapura.

Meanwhile, President Rajapaksa addressing scholars and the business community in the Kurunegala District on Saturday said,

“Certain leaders said we couldn’t develop the country while there is a war. They also said we couldn’t provide jobs. We changed all these myths by launching several development projects in the fields of power generation and road development in the country,” President Rajapaksa said.

Some people tried to stop loan grants to Sri Lanka from the IMF and other foreign banks. However, we were successful in getting these loans in the end, the President said.

“At all times, we must give assistance to local entrepreneurs and industrialists. We don’t need to encourage import based business activities.

We also have to put an end to alcohol use and ensure a good future for our youth. Our motive is not income generation alone, but to breed good future citizens,” he said.

The President further stated that all the people must unite in this development drive which will take the country forward. This includes investment opportunities in the North where fertile land was in disuse during the war, reported Daily News.