‘I am the only common candidate’ – President

Eradication of terrorism not an individual victory:

Media should be more balanced and accurate:

Open economy paved way for corruption:

Chaminda PERERA

The people of all walks of life including the Security Forces were involved in the eradication of terrorism led by him and no one can claim it as an individual victory, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday.

The President said he was able to get the support of all segments of society in the creation of unity in the country. “I gave proper leadership to the country and the Security Forces in the exercise of eradication of terrorism and bringing peace to the Motherland and I am committed to lead the development drive in the country,” he said.

The President was addressing media personnel at Temple Trees yesterday. Media and Information Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Transport Minister Dullas Alahapperuma, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga and Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa were also present.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa said he is the one and only common candidate contesting for the upcoming Presidential Election with the backing of more than 28 recognized political parties representing all ethnic and religious groups.

President Rajapaksa said his political party decided to go for a Presidential election to give an opportunity to the people in the North and East whose right to franchise was deprived by the LTTE at the last Presidential election.

“I think that the people in the North and East should have a right to get involved in the election of President in their land,” President Rajapaksa stressed.

He added that he is the only President in Sri Lanka who is seeking a fresh mandate from the people two years before the end of his tenure and he is not averse to face elections at any time. He said the Opposition should be the happiest to have a Presidential Election two years before the due period.

“The media should provide more balanced and accurate news to the public. This election is turning out to be a mud slinging campaign. He recalled how he faced the well organised mud slinging campaign during the last Presidential Election.

President Rajapaksa declared that his hands are clean of mud and blood throughout his political career spanning more than 40 years.

He said the Government never involved itself in mudslinging but committed itself to reunite the country by eradicating terrorism. President Rajapaksa said fraud and corruption is closely entwined with the open economy. The open economic system paved the way for the genesis of fraud and corruption in the country.

He said the Government will take every possible step to curb corruption and fraud in the country. A corruption free country is key to development and those involved in corruption and frauds will be severely dealt with, he said.

The country needed a stable government in facing the threat of terrorism and reuniting the country.

The Opposition would have levelled various allegations at me if I had failed to achieve that objective which received top place in the Mahinda Chinthana, he added.