KANDY - President Mahinda Rajapaksa assured a large gathering of the Muslim Community in the Badulla District that the security of the Muslim community in Sri Lanka was totally guaranteed.
Speaking at the Janadhipathi Mandiraya, Kandy on Tuesday afternoon President Rajapaksa invited the Muslim community to remain with his government as a support to develop not only the Uva but also the entire country.
The Muslim community should not be misled by false and malicious propaganda of his critics, he said.
"There is plenty of mudslinging at me", President Rajapaksa said.
"There is no discrimination against any community. There is only one single nation. Our government will not allow one group of people to be taken hostage by another group.
"Our policy is quite clear from what happened in the North and East. We liberated the Muslim community in those provinces from the clutches of the LTTE just as we have liberated the entire island from the LTTE. The Muslims who lost their homes due to terrorism found their homes under resettlement within 42 days. But the Muslims who were chased out from the North during the previous regime are still in occupation of the refugees camps in Puttalam district. This is the difference between the two administrations."
"What did the opposition do when the Muslim were chased out from their homes? Did the opposition utter a word about it. As a responsible opposition did they at least issue a statement condemning the injustice. There is generally a practice that an opposition issue a statement or raise opposition to the government in office. Ofcouse now the opposition clamours for resettlement of those in IDP camps."
"But, we have been throughout protesting against discrimination or harassment to the Muslims nationally or internationally. We campaigned against the chasing out of Muslims from their villages in the North and East. We held protest demonstration condemning the harassment to Muslims in Sri Lanka as well as in other countries."
"We campaigned against harassing the Muslims in Palestine. We raised opposition when the Muslims of Palestine were massacred by bombing and killing. I was at that time in the opposition. A motion condemning the massacre in Palestine was scheduled to introduced to Parliament. Mr. Barkir Markar was expected to introduce the motion. I was waiting to second it from the opposition. But at the last moment Markar was told by the UNP not to bring the motion."
The President told the meeting that these facts should be known by the people.
The President said, "we have the courage to oppose injustice. We are capable of walking the streets to register opposition, against injustice. But some others do not have the courage to act as we do."
As a result of the demerger, Precedent Rajapaksa said, the Eastern Province is fast developing. The rural areas of the East are being developed at an unprecedented scale after thirty years of suppression under the LTTE.
President Rajapaksa said that when Muslims were resettled in Muttur they requested that the Sampur sector be cleared as the LTTE were threat to Muttur. Accordingly the Sampur Sector too was liberated.
When the use of loudspeakers by night was stopped by the Court the opposition found fault with our government." The President said that the government had nothing to do with the Court order.
The critics went round and told the Vihares that the monks could not have Pirith chanting at night. The other places of worship could not have their prayes in the night. The government was blamed. But even now the musical shows cannot be continued after ten at night. This is on a Court order, the President said.
A Muslim girl in Kinniya came first in the A/Level. This could never have happened if Kinniya was not liberated from the clutches of the LTTE.
He said the time had dawned now to think in terms of developing the entire country as a whole and not as one province or district. "Let it be North, East, Uva, South or West let us all unite to develop our country, our motherland. All are equal in this island country. We are committed to develop this country. Every citizen of this country must live independently. Every one must live free of fear, suspicion and threat."
"We all must be stake-holders of development of the country. I believe that the people of Uva too will extend their support to develop the country. I have a strong belief that the Muslim Community will remain with me and my government."
The President said: "at this point it comes to my mind how certain groups made an abortive attempt to separate the Muslims from me during the Presidential Election. It was a conspiracy of the UNP to create a rift between me and the Muslims. They launched a propaganda that the Muslims would not have the freedom to observe their religious rights. The attempts of conspiracy failed and the truth reigns today."
"Let us all join hands to develop this motherland of ours. This large Cabinet of Ministers are there to serve the people and develop the country. The ministers are committed to make this country a pleasant home for everybody."
Finally President Rajapaksa invited the Muslim community of Badulla district to join the government to create a re-awakening of the province and the entire country as a whole by supporting the government at the PC election."
Petroleum and Petroleum Resources Minister A. H. M. Fowzie told the meeting that President Mahinda Rajapaksa deserved to be retained as the country's leader for the future.
"President Rajapaksa has been accepted internationally as an exemplary leader who has the courage and insight to rule a country," Minister Fowzie said. He was confident of victory for President Rajapaksa at the Uva Provincial Council Election in August.
Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said that numerous plans for development of the Uva Province had been launched and the urban areas of Uva had received a face-lift.
Many more development projects would be launched in the future according to plans afoot Minister de Silva said.
Among the speakers were A. H. M. Aswar, Rishard Badurdeen, A. L. M. Athaullah, Ministers Professor G. L. Peiris and Keheliya Rambukwella.
Some SLMC candidates at the forthcoming Uva PC election assured their allegiance to the President. (Courtesy: The Island)
