The Law is equal to all irrespective of their status in society and those violating the country’s law need to be severely dealt with, stated President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday (05 April) adding that he is not ready to intervene in the affairs of the law enforcement authorities in any way.

“There were some instances where Supreme Court judgments relating to sand mining were served in favour of friends. But the government of the time remained silent as it was not ready to intervene in its affairs in any way, the President further stated.

President Rajapaksa made these comments while addressing the UPFA’s final election rally at the Middeniya Maha Vidyalaya grounds yesterday.

He said that all have a responsibility to join hands with the Government and develop this country and requested the members of JVP and the UNP not to waste their valuable votes, Daily News reported.

The President reminisced how he was imprisoned by the then Government during the Middeniya by-election in 1985. “I had to languish behind bars for three months. I was not given telephones nor other facilities”, he stressed, adding that the then authorities did not allow him to see his ailing mother and he had to see her only after she died, reported Daily News.

The President pointed out that roads in the villages are either concreted or carpeted and electricity has been supplied to the remotest areas of the country. He said the country was in tatters and the Security Forces were divided when he came to power in 2005 and stressed that he did not put off the development of the village due to the war. The Government faced the challenge of terrorism and development in the same vain.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa also announced that a special unit to conserve films will be set up at the Ranmihithenna Tele Cinema village on a request by film producer Lester James Peries. He said this unit will protect the films and creations for the future generation.