In the face of a raging battle against terrorism, a global economic meltdown and a food scarcity in the recent past, the Government had neither neglected development nor kept the people in hunger, said President Rajapaksa yesterday (Jan 4) addressing a large public gathering in Chilaw.

“When the Tigers closed the A-9 road we sent food to the North using sea and air routes. Some organizations refused to provide us ships. But we always found ways and never kept the Northern people in hunger,” he said.

The President pointed out that in spite of these efforts some international and local elements had resorted to accusing the Government of violating human rights.

Outlining some of the development work enacted during the period he said the construction of Puttalam Coal Power Plant, Hambantota Port, island wide road network and Colombo-Katunayake expressway, strategically important bridges and flyovers/roads, electricity supply, drinking water schemes and irrigation projects had taken significant strides during the period.

Island wide expansion of infrastructure development connecting the entire country to explore its economic potential through infrastructure development is in progress, he added.

The President told the gathering that efforts to develop tourism in the Chilaw area, expansion of the fisheries harbour, new roads and the Norochcholai power generation project were destined to usher unprecedented development in the area in the near future.

However not too long ago these areas were included in the Eelam map. The area extended up to the Kochchikade bridge.

“But we changed all this and eradicated terrorism. At the same time we also took steps to protect democracy. This is why crowds are flocking around us,” he observed.

He further added in future the Government would also take steps to eradicate corruption from the country, quoting the President, Daily News reported.