President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday (13) said that those who forgot their duties and responsibilities to their fellow beings and the country have resorted to a ploy to earn a fast buck by betraying their Motherland.

He added that certain heads of Trade Unions have ignored what is expected of them by their fellow members and the country at large. He said they are paid to make false charges against their Motherland.

President Rajapaksa was speaking at the 11th national convention of the All Island Samurdhi Development and Agricultural Research Production Assistant Officers Society at Temple Trees yesterday.

President Rajapaksa added that these Trade Union leaders sent letters to foreign countries requesting the suspension of GSP+.

The President added that these individuals are well paid to say that basic human rights are denied in Sri Lanka.

President Rajapaksa also said the so-called leaders of the country do not know how they should behave when the national anthem is being played.

He was referring to the conduct of UNP leaders at its special convention Sunday.

The President asked what would happen to the country if the leaders are involved in dishonouring the country’s national anthem. “No body should be allowed to destroy our culture and its rich values,” he added. He requested the Samurdhi officers to play a more active role to prevent this situation in their village and area. The President was of the view that this culture of disrespecting the country’s national flag and the national anthem should be prevented from seeping into the Sri Lankan society. He said the national anthem and flag belong to all, irrespective of their racial , religious and other differences and all people should honour them.

He further said that Samurdhi Officers are entrusted with a responsibility to uplift the people who are living below the poverty line.

The President also commended the service of Samurdhi Officers to the Government and the country during the past 15 years.

He added that the villages and the people in rural areas are witnessing the rays of development with the end to 30 years of terrorism that engulfed the entire country.

President Rajapaksa stressed that the Samurdhi beneficiaries are dependent on subsidies.

“The Samurdhi Officers should remove the mentality of dependency and help them to build their own lives,” he added. He was of the opinion that Samurdhi Development and Agricultural Research Production Assistants should discharge their duties and responsibilities according to their conscious.

President Rajapaksa said that the Government will guarantee job security to the Samurdhi officers by integrating them into a pension scheme adding that this proposed pension scheme will be forwarded to the Finance Ministry for approval.