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President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa wave at people at the political rally in Anuradhapura
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President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday urged the public to rally around the Government ushering an aggressive development drive without being deceived by the false propaganda of the power-hungry Opposition.
The call on the masses by the duo in chorus was at the first major post-COVID political rally of the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) in Anuradhapura.
Both speeches were heavily weighted towards exposing the motives of the Opposition which however has been firing at the Government for sheer economic mismanagement causing multiple crises ranging from foreign reserves, rising inflation, scarcity of essential food and drugs, electricity and fuel to agriculture.
However, the President said the Rajarata rally is the beginning of a series of public rallies to make aware of the targets achieved by the Government in the face of challenges in line with the national policy framework “Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour”.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa pledged to increase the income of farmers 100% with or without fertiliser, assuring to implement the national policy framework and would not hesitate to do anything for the benefit of the farming community.
“During the first election rally, I promised to provide fertiliser free-of-charge and to increase the guaranteed price of paddy. I provided farmers with the required fertiliser and funds and returned their lands. I promise to increase the income of farmers by 100% despite the fertiliser crisis,” he said.
President Rajapaksa affirmed he is committed to take any necessary steps for the well-being of the farming community.
The President also claimed that during the former Yahapalana Government, national security was weakened resulting in the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks, whilst the intelligence units were destroyed, war heroes were betrayed and the country’s sovereignty was compromised before the international community.
He said the country’s culture and traditions were also destroyed while monks were taken before the Court.
The President asserted that the SLPP-led Government changed that situation during the past two years, amidst many challenges post-COVID.
“We have ensured national security and will reclaim the country’s religious, cultural inheritance and stabilise the economy too,” he added.
He assured to implement the Government policies, without imposing further lockdowns, to ensure economic recovery and stability.
The President requested the public to refrain from being deceived and betraying the country once again.
He also pointed out that local and foreign forces were working together to prevent the journey of the Government, as they had done to topple Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Government in 2015.
“The policies of the Government are aimed at the well-being of the future generations. Therefore, we would continue to move forward despite obstacles,” he stressed.
President Rajapaksa pointed out that opposition who take to the streets to launch protests for political propaganda should first think about the inconvenience they cause the people and not the Government.
He also reminded the State sector officials that they should make a commitment to serve the country and the people.
Prime Minister Rajapaksa said the Government has embarked on an aggressive development drive to deliver its promises, assuring to improve the economy within the next three years.
“During the past two years, the Opposition attempted to sabotage every program that was initiated by the Government. They instigated the farmers, teachers, State sector workers and union members and took it to the streets to inconvenience the public,” he claimed, adding that the SLPP-led Government will not let them deceive the people of this country.
Rajapaksa said the health and safety ensured by the Government for free movement was being misused by the Opposition for their false propaganda.
“We are prepared to go into the streets. It is not new to us, as I am one of those who led the ‘Pada Yatra’ and as a politician who stood for the rights of the labourers. We will educate the people about the program of the Government,” Rajapaksa stressed.
The Prime Minister acknowledged the hardships faced by the farmers and assured them to improve their livelihood.
“Before 2005, farmers received a mere Rs. 12 or 13 for a kilo of paddy, but we managed to increase it by several folds. We have always been with the farmers and will continue to work for the wellbeing of the farmers,” he said.
Rajapaksa recalled that the Yahapalana Government stored paddy inside the Mattala Airport and disregarded the plight of the farmers.
The Prime Minister challenged the Opposition and insisted that it should face them directly without conspiring against the Government and the country through various means.
Affirming that the Government will not allow the Opposition to sabotage its work, Rajapaksa called on the masses not to be deceived by false propaganda and rally around the Government development initiatives during the next three years.
