Mahinda rebukes CBK on “Mr. Praba”

Friday, 2 January 2015 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday rebuked former President Chandrika Kumaratunga, saying she had used the term “Mr” to refer to LTTE Leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran. Speaking at an election rally in Kandy yesterday, the President said that Kumaratunga had never used the term “Mr” for him and instead simply called him Mahinda while she called the LTTE Leader “Mr. Prabhakaran”. The President also recalled the terror period when the opposition United National Party (UNP) was in power and the atrocities committed by the LTTE.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa and former President Chandrika Kumaratunga – File photo

Rajapaksa said that when he came to power he had a responsibility to make Sri Lanka one country and not a divided nation. He however said that initially he faced difficulties since the Army did not have most of the resources and equipment it needed for the battle against the LTTE. Eventually, the President said, the Army was given everything it needed to defeat the LTTE and the entire country supported the victory. “We freed this country for you. We will not allow that freedom to be betrayed again,” the President said. He said that following the end of the war the country had now been developed yet allegations were now being raised saying the development work could be done at a lesser cost. Rajapaksa says the construction of roads could not be done at the cost the Opposition claimed and that the allegations were being made merely since they had nothing else to say. (Colombo Gazette)