Govt will liberate people from LTTE tyranny - PM

HAMBANTOTA: Prime Minister Rathnasiri Wickremanayake yesterday vowed to continue the Government’s retaliatory attacks against LTTE until terrorism is eliminated from the country.

The Premier inaugurating the construction work of Hambantota International Port, said, the Government’s main aim was to liberate the Tamil people from the clutches of the LTTE tyranny.

The Premier further added that the Government would not be deterred by the efforts of some unscrupulous elements who were trying to sabotage the Government’s efforts and appealed to the media not to strengthen the enemy by misleading the public intentionally or unintentionally.

The Premier describing this mega development project as a turning point in the country’s development drive, said the intention of the Government was not to confine development to Colombo but to carry the work into rural areas in achieving equity in development throughout the country.

Reiterating the Government’s commitment to development, Premier Wickremanayake added that terrorism too would be defeated and the Government was working on a steady and planned agenda to defeat it.

Some people ask the Government to go for talks. We too are keen and have committed ourselves to go for talks to find a viable solution to the problem. But we are not prepared for talks where the LTTE would be able to abuse an agreement by engaging in violent acts.

The SLFP has put forward a set of proposals to resolve vital issues. They are the SLFP proposals and open for new suggestions and amendments. When all the political parties come up with their proposals we can establish a national agenda based on them.

“We have to take all steps to protect the liberated areas. We need the support of all to realise this. We have appointed capable people with the necessary know how to expedite the war against LTTE terror. But some are trying to portray a different picture for their selfish gains. We are only acting as a facilitator,” the Prime Minister said.

The Prime Minister added that these sort of mega development projects would attract foreign investors interested in investing and help boost the tourism industry. He said that the Government had sought help for this project and for nine other development projects from China, the rising super power in the world economy.

Port, Aviation, Irrigation and Water Management Minister Chamal Rajapaksa describing the effort as a dream come true, said that the Rajapaksa’s had dreamt of such development projects for the South for a long time. “Our dream has begun to realise now. This project belongs to you and it is the duty of everyone of you to come forward to make the project a success”.

“When the UNP was ruling the country under Ranil Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister, his government had taken steps to halt this project and other major development programmes in the South.

But fortunately people appointed a true leader who always put the country before anything else. So now this project will benefit not only the southerners but the country as a whole,” Rajapaksa said.

Dr. J. R. P. Suriyapperuma delivered a special lecture to mark the occasion. Ministry Secretary Thilak Kollure, SLPA Vice President Priyan Banduwickrema, SLPA Chairman Saliya Wickremasuriya and the Acting Chinese Ambassador also spoke.

Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, Chief Minister of Southern Province Shan Wijeyalal De Silva and Nirupama Rajapaksa MP were also present at the launching of the project.