FROM THE PRESIDENT’S ALBUM

The President visited Malwatta and Asgiriya chapter temples.Here the President with Chief Incumbent of Malwatu Viharaya Ven. Tibbotuwawe Sri Suman- gala Thera and Chief Incumbent of Asgiriya Temple Ven. Udugama Sri Buddharakkhitha Thera. President confident of people’s mandate

ASELA KURULUWANSE and develop the country,” Presi- “We were able to finish BANDARA PILAWALA We were able to finish the war dent Rajapaksa said. “We the war which lasted for 30 carried forward the war years in four years. I used President Mahinda which lasted for 30 years in four years. against terrorism despite the executive powers to ban Rajapaksa said he is confi- I used the executive powers to ban the several sacrifices. Even my the LTTE and abolish the dent that the people will LTTE‘ and abolish the secret pact they family members faced innu- secret pact they had President addressed a massive rally at Kurunegala on January 16. once again grant him a had entered into. We are always against merable threats,” he said. entered into. We are always unique mandate to enable The President said: “The against the country being him to establish a country the country being divided TNA put forward their con- divided. ’s free from racism and malice ditions to support me. policy statement has dilut- after abolishing the pact sive agreement in the coun- was engaged in internation- These demands included ed the unitary status of the between Sarath Fonseka try. The terrorists had al politics. He was in Nor- self-rule and merger of the country. We rejoined the and Sampanthan which has boasted of an army, police, way during the final stages North and East. We could country that was split into the hall-marks of separation courts and a bank system. of the war. Some’ people have readily acceded to two. People will never of the country. The Presi- They had also issued tried to stop aid to Sri these conditions without allow that to happen once dent was speaking at a cer- national identity cards. Lanka. However we over- waging war for 30 years. I again. We don’t want per- emony at President’s House “We also led a govern- came all these challenges rejected them outright. I sons like Hitler, Idi Amin or in last Friday. ment which could not and fought the war to the then asked them if they sub- Polpot in our country, the A large number of appoint even its own Speak- finish. mitted these demands to President said. traders, artistes and UNP er in Parliament. “Some say that they have the other candidate. They Land Development and supporters were also pre- “I spoke to Ranil Wick- kept a room ready for me at replied in the affirmative Ranawiru Welfare Minister sent. remesinghe and asked him Bogambara prison. I wish and said he agreed to meet , and The President said: to support for the common to ask them one question. them. However, they said it Power Minister Mahin- “When I took over office as good of the country. He for- Are they trying to imprison was of no use since I would dananda Aluthgamage also President there was a divi- got Sri Lankan politics and me for what I have done to be the winner. spoke.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa participated in a religious ceremony at Thirukkovil Murugan Temple in connection with Thai Pongal celebrations. He later addressed the gathering at Thirukkovil. Ministers Vinayagamurti Muralidaran and were also present.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa opened a new swimming pool funded by the Tarunnayata Hetak program and a sports pavilion at Dharmaraja College, Kandy on January 16. Principal S.M. Keerthirathne presented a memento to the President. Ministers and Chief Minister Sarath Ekanayake were also present. Here the President with the Princi- pal. A section of the massive gathering braving the rains at President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Kurunegala rally

President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressed a large gathering at the Akurana junction on January 15. Ministers D.M. Jayarathne, Keheliya Rambukwelle and Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Deputy Minister Faizer Musthapa, Central Province President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressed leaders of the Kandy district SLFP women’s organizations at President’s House, Governor Tikiri Kobbekaduwa and Chief Minister Sarath Ekanayake were also present. Pictures by Kamal Jayamanna, Sudath Silva Kandy on January 16. and Chandana Perera

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