Start the New Year with determination to be partners in building the Nation – Media Minister

Minister of Mass Media and Information Keheliya Rambukwella urged all Sri Lankans and the public servants to make a determination this year to dedicate themselves to assist in the development of the country and usher in a brighter era for their children and make the efforts being made by the President and the government to make this country the wonder nation of the Asia.

The Minister made these comments addressing the employees of the Ministry of Mass Media and the Information and the Government Information Department, yesterday morning.  The Minister reminded that there was a time in this country when the people gave up all hopes of a tomorrow and whoever who could afford sold their movable and immovable properties and sent their children overseas in order to save their lives and with the hope of providing them a better life.

He also said that families were avoiding joint travels and the people were undertaking travels only if it cannot be avoided due to fear of bomb attacks and terrorist activities.  He said that when the country was undergoing continued destruction President Mahinda Rajapaksa took the bold and determined decision of rallying round the security forces and the patriotic masses to confront the terrorist head-on and eliminate them from the soil of this country. He said that this bold decision was taken by the President when several political groups, NGO pundits and foreign elements claimed that the terrorists cannot be defeated militarily and their demands, which were detrimental to the sovereignty of this country, should be granted.

He said that the country was considered as a failed state internationally due to negative propaganda carried out by certain foreign funded local elements and this obstructed foreign investments in the country.  He said that the youth of today grew up all their life in a country that had an uncertain tomorrow and the public servants spent almost half of their life being unable to contribute to the welfare of the country.    

The Minister further said that due to the gallant leadership provided by President Mahinda Rajapaksa this dark era has been eliminated and for the last two and half years the country is making rapid progress with an unprecedented economic growth.  The Minister earnestly requested all the employees to start the New Year with firm determination to provide their maximum contribution for the development of the country and usher in a new and prosperous era for the posterity.

The Secretary to the Ministry W.B.Ganegala also spoke.  The Director General of Government Information Professor Ariyaratne Atugala also attended the function