Military thrust to push the LTTE towards talks:

Military victories will pave way to political solution - President

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday reiterated that there is no point of discussing a political solution to the North East problem unilaterally without pushing the LTTE too to seek a political solution.

President Rajapaksa was addressing a public rally in Matara after opening the reconstructed Korean-funded Mahanama Bridge to coincide with the third anniversary of the tsunami which killed 40,000 people, 115,000 houses, 200 schools and thousands of fishing boats.

"Some believe that military victories are not useful and that what is needed is a political solution. We must realise that military victories will surely pave the way to push the LTTE to seek a political solution to the problem," the President added.

"The LTTE should realise that they cannot solve problems by means of war and by pointing guns at us."

The President said Sri Lanka which rose from the ashes of tsunami in such a speed unparalleled to other nations, can also defeat terrorism in the same breath. The tsunami also brought all together irrespective of petty differences. No one died from starvation or epidemics. "We have recorded unprecedented military victories during the past two years.

But even today we are inviting the LTTE to the negotiations table after abandoning arms," the President emphasised. He recalled that the Government waited patiently even as they killed 285 persons and engaged in other provocations.

President Rajapaksa said that the Government is bound to protect the just rights of the Tamil people and was aware as to who was responsible for depriving the Tamil community of their rights. "The LTTE should now realise that they should abandon the path they stuck to find a solution to the problem depriving the Tamils of their just rights.

It think they have realised it now," he added.

"Our aim is an honourable peace. We will not bow down before terrorism in that effort. It will be a difficult path, but with the blessings of the international community, we are moving towards that goal," the President observed. President Rajapaksa said that some parts of the country hit by Tsunami waves such as Mullaitivu are yet to return to normality.

"The Government is ready to take that responsibility of restoring normality to those areas." He said the Government was receiving unprecedented foreign assistance for its development programme exceeding US$ 1,200 million whereas other Governments received only US $ 800 million because the international community knew it is fighting terrorism with sincerity of purpose.

Countries like China, Japan, South Korea and Iran are supporting us in the country's development efforts.

The President also pointed out the Government did not resort to popular paths to feed the nation by selling public assets though it too could have easily adopted the same easy measures to feed the nation.

"We chose the difficult path without selling public assets to feed the nation while fighting a war against terrorism," the President pointed out. "We never held the war as an excuse to curtail development. More than four million youth have got jobs.

We have made giant strides in development including Gama Neguma. We also wage a battle against tobacco and alcohol. We have close down many taverns, in contrast to other Governments which virtually depended on their revenue."

Recalling the way the nation rose from the Tsunami tragedy like Japan rose from its ashes after the Second World War, he added that the country could commemorate December 26 as the National Reawakening Day. More than 100,000 houses and 100 schools have been built while more than 95 per cent of the fishermen received boats.

He described the newly-built Matara Mahanama bridge as a symbol of the nation's unity. He was no stranger to Matara as he was born there. "Prominent politicians from Matara inspired my political career." He dismissed allegations that he was favouring the South as far as development is concerned. Development activities rare taking place all over the island.

"We have not deviated from the Mahinda Chinthana. Other Governments forgot their manifestos soon after coming to power. The fertiliser subsidy is just one example. We have been providing fertiliser at Rs.250 for two years, spending Rs.15 billion."

"We have a clear vision, forward thinking. We believe that a national economy is vital to develop the nation. We do not want to sell the country and make the next generation suffer. Instead, we will grow more food and establish more industries to revive the local economy. We had neglected local production for so long. We are suffering today as a result."

He said the farmer will be given priority in the envisaged agricultural economy. All should join hands in this endeavour of building an indigenous economy.