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We will not allow reactionaries to destroy economy - President

by Jatila Karawita

As long as she was Head of State, she would not permit UNP led reactionaries to destroy the country's economy which was currently on a sound footing, President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga said at a People's Alliance election rally at the Poramadulla Central College grounds in Hanguranketha on Tuesday night.

President Kumaratunga who was addressing a capacity audience said voters would have to decide on two very serious issues at the December 5 election.

First, she said if the people vote for the UNP it would be an endorsement to UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe who had secretly entered into a pact with LTTE leader Vellupillai Prabakaran for the establishment of Eelam.

She advised the people of the Nuwara Eliya district and in particular Hanguranketa to reject and teach a lesson to former PA Minister S. B. Dissanayake and company who had played out Samurdhi funds to the tune of over Rs. 950 million.

"Is the so-called United National Front trying to form a government with corrupt elements? she asked.

The President gave a vivid description of how the PA managed to erase the tag of the 'flesh eating land' after it assumed power in 1994. Today, the government had been able to establish Parliamentary democracy sans abductions, rape, and disappearances.

She called on the people to bear with her government in connection with the present cost of living but assured the masses that development on an unprecedented scale would continue after the polls.

Turning her attention towards the North East conflict the President said that as long as her term of Presidency lasts she would not go back on her promise to the nation to defeat the LTTE militarily if the Tigers are not willing to enter into peaceful negotiations'.

"I reiterate that the PA government is determined to go for a peaceful resolution on this issue. We are against all forms of terrorism and the terror perpetrated by the LTTE in this country for the last 20 years. We have tried several times to resolve this issue during our seven year tenure in office, but each time the LTTE had hoodwinked us and all the citizens of this country, be they Sinhala, Tamil or Muslim."

"Now I stress that we are determined more than at any time in our struggle to wipe out terrorism and we will continue to wage war against the Tigers to a logical conclusion" she said.

The President said that since the US led military strikes in Afghanistan commenced the LTTE had suffered numerous setbacks in their efforts to extort money from countries like the US, UK, and Canada which had decided to freeze the bank accounts of the Tigers.

She told the meeting that almost 75% of the war had been waged effectively in the North East and that she and her government would not rest until the LTTE was exterminated. This was necessary for fulfilling and re-establishing the neglected rights of the Tamil and Muslim people.

She explained that though she and her government was capable of withstanding the onslaught of the LTTE, the attempts made on the sly by UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe to grant Eelam would threaten the territorial integrity of Sri Lanka.

"So far Ranil had kept mum like a baby on his position regarding these burning issues. He is hiding, unable to enlighten the country on his dubious pact with Prabakaran because if he did so it would bode ill for his campaign to become the Prime Minister.

Today, the UNF had entered into another pact with the so-called Tamil National Alliance under the condition of lifting the ban on the LTTE if Ranil assumed the Premiership.

This is the most formidable challenge facing the people at this poll. Are they going to allow Ranil to cause further mayhem in keeping with their past despicable record, and this time round, more dangerously conspiring with the LTTE.

And the next biggest challenge was whether the people would want to see the economy which was on a firm footing, plummet causing untold economic burdens on the people" President Kumaratunga pointed out.

The President mentioned that all public servants and government teachers could expect more salary hikes under her PA administration in 2002.

She urged the people lastly, to elect a government, with which she could work towards further retaining the Unitary State of the country, and further developing the economy to the status of the best in South Asia.

"I ask the people of Hanguranketha and the rest of the country to elect the PA government for another term. Only the PA is able to overpower Ranil and the LTTE and further enhance the economic benefits of the country. If not, it will be an irrevocable mistake which will seriously affect future generations, she emphasised.

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