Lankans in Europe extend support to President

Monday, 6 October 2014 00:05 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A large group representing various associations of Sri Lankans living in Europe met President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Hotel Cavalieri in Rome on Friday and extended their fullest cooperation to the President’s efforts to take the country forward, the President’s Media Unit said. Sri Lankans living in Europea

n Union countries such as UK, France, Germany, Norway and Switzerland were among the group. They have said that President’s leadership is needed in the future as well for the country’s peace, stability, development and national reconciliation. Speaking to the group, the President said Sri Lanka fought against terrorists for 30 years and not against Tamil people. He said the terrorist separatism does not help any community. Describing the development in the country, especially in the war-torn Northern Province, the President said expenditure for the development activities in the Northern Province during the past five years is three times higher than the rest of the country. He commented that a handful of politicians who represented the LTTE and those who supported their cause do not acknowledge this progress.The President expressed his gratitude to the Sri Lankans living in Europe for staging demonstrations in Geneva in protest when a resolution against Sri Lanka was presented to the UN Human Rights Council. “You are our ambassadors. You can support to win the international struggle Sri Lanka is faced with,” President added. Sri Lankan President is on a visit to the Vatican and Italy. Earlier in the week, the President met with the Pope in Vatican and officially invited him to visit Sri Lanka. The President is accompanied by the First Lady Shiranthi Wickremasinghe Rajapaksa, Minister G. L. Peiris and several other ministers.