Spreading the Message of Progress

President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressed a series of election rallies of the United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) in the Matale District. Addressing a meeting in Dambulla President Rajapaksa said there was no doubt he would win the forthcoming Presidential election, judging by the massive crowds at his election rallies.

The President said that in 2005, all that the people had asked of him was to liberate the country from the clutches of terrorism in order to live peacefully without fear of death. The President said there is no doubt that the patriotic people will elect him as the President again and therefore, he will be the President of the country, who will take the nation forward.

The country, which experienced immense hardship for three decades owing to terrorism, is being developed not only for the present generation but also for the future generations, President Rajapaksa said.

He urged the people to rally round him and the Government to assist the ongoing march of the country to prosperity with the partners of its Alliance to yield maximum benefits for the nation.

The President who later addressed an election rally in Yatawaththa, Matale said that the country had progressed to such a large extent owing to a leadership that had taken courageous decisions with self-confidence that reflected the prime objective of protecting the country's sovereignty without resorting to betrayal.

The President also toured the Kandy District throughout the day to participate at meetings and meet people in Akurana, Harispaththuwa, Kadugannawa, Nawalapitiya, Gampola and Gelioya. Addressing an election rally in Kandy the President had said that his Government had never used public issues for political mileage. The President also pointed out that many opposed to the work carried out by his Government were determined to belittle the efforts by ridiculing the progress achieved thus far and reiterated his commitment to march on despite such obstacles. Nihal Gunasekera, former United National Party Organiser for Yatinuwara and Udhdhika Pathirana, Member - Yatinuwara Pradheshiya Sabha joined the rally in support of President Rajapaksa at the presidential election.

Touring the Eastern Province, the President participated in massive rallies in the heart of Batticaloa and Ampara. The President attended meetings in Kattankudi, Kinniya and Serunuwara. He received a warm welcome from Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim residents of these towns.

Addressing the people, the President had said that the opposition's desire to adopt a Singapore-style model to manage the country's affairs would mean the continuation of the policies of former leaders of the United National Party. President Rajapaksa added that he has more than four decades of experience as a politician, which has made him aware of what the opposition was planning to do for the country. He said the people are not ready to become servile to foreign nations by selling its assets.

The President reiterated the importance of a self confident leader to rule the country and said a leader who lacks self-confidence and is unable to inform the party before leaving, cannot rule a country. The fact that some persons had left the party without informing was unacceptable and contrary to humane values. President Rajapaksa said that Sri Lanka has been facing severe pressure locally and internationally and hence must have the confidence to fight such forces. The President added that a leader should have the courage and fortitude to dispose of what is not useful for a country and embrace what is useful for the country.

The President also addressed an election rally in Chilaw organised by the United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) of the North Western Provincial Council. A large crowd belonging to different ethnicities and ages thronged the Shirley Corea Playground in Chilaw despite the heavy rain.