President Rajapaksa asserted that after the triumph against terrorism, the Government was now ready to make Sri Lanka, South Asia’s most prosperous nation in the near future. The President emphasized that the Government led by him had fulfilled the people’s aspirations by defeating the forces of terror and leading the country on the path of development.

“People accepted it and rallied round us with new vigour. We never forgot our election promises,” he said. President Rajapaksa said these gains have been made by alleviating the defeatist mentality which prevailed in the country a few years back.

The President pointed out that when he took over, the people did not have any faith and confidence in his abilities as they thought that the country did not have a future.

“They thought that the war could not be won and Prabhakaran could not be defeated. They thought that the country would be divided soon. Farmers were treated shabbily. Support for local agriculture was not given. Then regimes were more concerned on importing luxury food items. As a result farmers resorted to suicide,” quoting President Rajapaksa, Daily News reported.

“We changed all that in short span of four years. We instilled belief in small scale entrepreneurs and farmers by providing them with all necessities,” he said.

We provided fertilizer at the subsidized price of Rs.350 even when it shot up to Rs 9,500. We gave loans at a very low interest,” the President added.