lkdood
02-04-2009, 05:48 PM
President Mahinda Rajapaksa has urged Sri Lankans who left the island because of war to return to help rebuild the nation and revive its economy, saying Tiger terrorism was about to be completely crushed.
The Tamil Tiger separatist insurgency that had retarded the nation's economic development was on the verge of being defeated, Rajapaksa said in a speech broadcast live islandwide to mark the country's 61st independence celebrations Wednesday.
"Those people who left country because of the war, I invite them to return to their land of birth," Rajapaksa.
"In a few days terrorism will be completely defeated. But we must not think that will solve all our problems. There are many challenges that remain which we must overcome."
These include a better education for children and eradicating poverty, he added.
The state bureaucracy must change its attitude and adopt a new mind that recognises the public as their master, Rajapaksa said.
"Let us leave no room for waste and corruption."
The end of the ethnic war has given the country a new opportunity to progress, Rajapaksa said, adding that the people should make use of the opportunity.
"You must show respect to all communities," Rajapaksa said.
"The future belongs to those who sow ethnic harmony, to those who build fairness in society."
The people of the island's north and east have been freed from the hold of Tamil Tiger rebels and must be supported to re-integrate with the rest of the country, Rajapaksa said.
In a separate message to mark the occasion, Rajapaksa said minority Tamils will be assured of a safe future with equal rights.
"I pledge to you today, that these people who share our motherland, will be liberated and given the equality and all rights that they are entitled to, under the Constitution."
lbo (http://www.lankabusinessonline.com/fullstory.php?nid=1706560351)
http://www.srilanka-botschaft.de/images/additional/mahinda_pm_01.jpg
The Tamil Tiger separatist insurgency that had retarded the nation's economic development was on the verge of being defeated, Rajapaksa said in a speech broadcast live islandwide to mark the country's 61st independence celebrations Wednesday.
"Those people who left country because of the war, I invite them to return to their land of birth," Rajapaksa.
"In a few days terrorism will be completely defeated. But we must not think that will solve all our problems. There are many challenges that remain which we must overcome."
These include a better education for children and eradicating poverty, he added.
The state bureaucracy must change its attitude and adopt a new mind that recognises the public as their master, Rajapaksa said.
"Let us leave no room for waste and corruption."
The end of the ethnic war has given the country a new opportunity to progress, Rajapaksa said, adding that the people should make use of the opportunity.
"You must show respect to all communities," Rajapaksa said.
"The future belongs to those who sow ethnic harmony, to those who build fairness in society."
The people of the island's north and east have been freed from the hold of Tamil Tiger rebels and must be supported to re-integrate with the rest of the country, Rajapaksa said.
In a separate message to mark the occasion, Rajapaksa said minority Tamils will be assured of a safe future with equal rights.
"I pledge to you today, that these people who share our motherland, will be liberated and given the equality and all rights that they are entitled to, under the Constitution."
lbo (http://www.lankabusinessonline.com/fullstory.php?nid=1706560351)
http://www.srilanka-botschaft.de/images/additional/mahinda_pm_01.jpg