Our strategy of development in the new decade beginning today will seek to make Sri Lanka the South Asian hub of ocean and air traffic, and communications in a knowledge - based society, stated President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his New Year message.

"Today I have come forward for re-election after completing 98 percent of my promises", said President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing entrepreneurs and businessmen, bus owners and farmers from the North, East and North Central Provinces in Anuradhapura.

I would be keen to get the economy back to the 6% plus growth by next year. When we do that, we would be able to bring down poverty substantially, generate more employment for our youth and improve the living standards of our people further. We will take measures to bring poverty levels down to below 2%.

This time of year is a period for reflection for many people around the world. For the people of Sri Lanka it brings back acutely painful memories, but also for the first time in many years, a genuine sense of hope, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa marking the 5th anniversary of the Tsunami.

We are relieved to know that Pope Benedict XVI has been unharmed in the incident at the Vatican on December 25 evening at the start of the traditional Christmas midnight mass at St. Peter’s Basilica President Mahinda Rajapaksa said issuing a message on the incident at the Vatican.

“This country is our Motherland where we were born and where we have to breathe our last and it is the duty of every citizen to treasure it more than ones own life,” said President Mahinda Rajapaksa at a meeting held at President’s House, Kandy recently.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa said that the terrorists attempted to shatter the harmony that existed between all communities within the country and after their defeat, the bond between all communities in independent Sri Lanka have become very powerful.

The people of Sri Lanka need an abundance of love which is at the core of Christianity that will build new bridges of tolerance and understanding, to rebuild the shattered lives of our people who have suffered through three decades of terror and restore our land to one of peace and harmony, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his Christmas message.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa urged Opposition parties to stop vindictive politics. "The people are aware about the person with 40 years political experience and a person with only 40 days political experience," said the President in Kandy yesterday (21).

In view of the current threat of withdrawal of GSP+ concession of the EU, which is seen as another pre-planned attempt to obstruct Sri Lanka`s progress, President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday gave a firm assurance to all local export industries that the government will safeguard their industries with measures necessary to support them, in the event of a carefully managed, strategic withdrawal of this scheme, being introduced by the relevant authorities at this sensitive time.

The Orugodawatte flyover was opened by President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday (20).

"I would secure a brighter future for the present and future generations, in the way I ended the war to restore peace”, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing at the inaugural UPFA Presidential election rally at Salgado grounds, Anuradhapura.

“I carried out the most arduous exercise of eradicating terrorism in the country and I will win the development war to create better future for our posterity”, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Elections Secretariat after handing over nomination papers for the upcoming Presidential election.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa handed over his nomination for the 2010 Presidential Election a short while ago at the Election Secretariat.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa stressed he will never commit treachery against the Security Forces and that he is ready to face any accusation on behalf of the security forces.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa had ordered the Police to remove all his posters, banners and cutouts displayed in the Colombo city and island-wide before the nominations date to ensure that election laws were complied with.

Mahinda Rajapaksa reiterated his commitment to resettling the Internally Displaced Persons by January 31 when he met them at Menik Farm yesterday.

The celebration of Human Rights Day in Sri Lanka this year is of special significance as it takes place when the entire country is liberated from the clutches of terrorism and all Sri Lankans enjoy the freedoms they were denied for a very long time, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said in a message to mark the World Human Rights Day.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa today visited several areas in the North that were liberated from the terror of the LTTE earlier this year.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa said he is prepared to pay any sacrifice to create a law abiding society in the country.