Elements who failed to divide the country through military means today are striving to win over their desired objectives in some other forms and the masses should be aware of such conspiracies, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing a massive public rally in Polonnaruwa.

He told the gathering that another secret pact, hatched with the intention of propagating divisions within the country was afoot.

President Rajapaksa emphasized that he would never allow the subjugation of the freedom achieved and the democracy protected by sacrificing thousands of precious lives.

President Rajapaksa said that he was confident that the people would rise against such attempts and would never allow the ugly head of terrorism to rise again or attempts to divide the country.

The massive public rally was attended by an estimated crowd of over 100,000.

Addressing a rally at the Sanath Jayasuriya Stadium in Matara yesterday (Jan 20), President Mahinda Rajapaksa said he will not allow any repetition of the violence of 1988 - 90.

President Rajapaksa said as he united the divided country, he will continue the economic development of the country exactly as he had done during the past four years.

The time has come for all groups of people to forget party or colour differences and unite to develop the country, he said.

Over 100,000 people attended rally in Matara.

Another rally was held in Ragala yesterday where the President stressed that the Government will put in place a novel mechanism to avert an artificial food shortage in the market ahead of the elections.

He said some unscrupulous traders were creating an artificial shortage of essential commodities by hiding them to achieve narrow and petty political mileage. President Rajapaksa requested such traders to put their stocks to the market as the people cannot be taken for a ride by this type of mean tricks ahead of the elections.