Yesterday was my birthday. Today completes one year of entrusting me the custodianship of this country. I consider these as the two most important days in my life.
I must thank you all for your commitment to invoke blessings on me through various meritorious acts in these two days.
On this historic day it is a pleasure to come to the historic Giruwapattuwa, to be among you who dressed me with this Kurahan shawl, the people who are closest to me, and lay the foundation stone to launch a massive development scheme which symbolizes the future advances of our country.
One year has elapsed since we took over the responsibility of building a New Sri Lanka. When we look back at this period, we should ask whether we have deviated from the pledges we gave to build a New Sri Lanka, stated in the Mahinda Chintana. In addition to conceptual matters stated in the Mahinda Chintana, we are bound by a contract with the people in respect of 652 basic issues. Have we violated that contract? Have we sidetracked the mandate given to me by the people?
On this occasion I would like tell you all very honestly that we have not betrayed an iota, a word, a letter or even a comma of the Mahinda Chintana.
We have fulfilled about 200 conditions of this contract such as the fertilizer subsidy, a Ministry for Children, Maga Neguma, Gama Neguma, Mathata Thitha, a Nutrition Package, Jathika Saviya, increase of Samurdhi relief, and the increase of public service salaries etc. For us who have been battered by drought, rain is a blessing.
In the Budget presented by me the day before yesterday, I have allocated Rs. 90 billion for Education which is the highest ever in any budget in Sri Lanka. Can you remember me telling on this platform that I will form child-based government, for the children? That is why I allocated such a massive sum for education. I introduced the E-village concept from this budget. That is for your children. I have also allocated a large amount for development projects and infrastructure development. Besides that, this budget also provides for more graduate employment.
My dear friends, in doing all these we have not sacrificed any of our national assets or any state institution. We have proved within one year that we need not sell this country in order to build it. No should now tell us that we have to sell our national assets to build the country. This is the biggest victory of the Mahinda Chintanaya to date.
On the other hand look at the security of this blessed land. Are we subdued by any one's threats? Are we frightened? Have we humiliated or made cowards of our heroic soldiers before the LTTE terrorists who are engaged in cruel acts to destroy the brotherhood of Sinhala, Tamil and Muslims who lived in harmony for centuries? I said then that I will not allow the Muslims living in the East to be hostages to the LTTE. Haven't we honoured our promise? The so called ruthless terrorists of the world are now beleaguered in 5- 6 villages in the East. I will repeat today what said introducing Mahinda Chintanaya. I love this land of my birth more than anything else. I am not prepared to be intimidated by anyone who is powerful, any invader or terrorist to divide or betray this noble land. That much is sure.
However friends, I have to openly state that many of our people have a disease that makes it difficult to identifying and separate the terrorist from the ordinary Tamil person. This is a terrible disease. There are hundreds thousand of Tamils living in the North and East, as well as in other parts of the country, who follow the path of Amirthalingam, Lakshman Kadirgamar, Anandasangaree and Douglas Devananda. We should respect their rights. If they say that they have a problem, we have no right to say, no you have no problem. We should listen to them and take steps to resolve their problems.
You are aware that the first condition to build a new Sri Lanka is the unifying of this country. From the dawn of independence every leader attempted to bring this country under a single standard without differences of race, caste and creed. We have to admit that honestly. Today we have made their aspirations a reality. The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna and the Hela Urumaya who were around me like a wall of strength during last presidential election; as well as the main opposition the United National Party that was then opposed to us; are now ready to join hands with us in the issues affecting the country. They have already declared that. That is what D. S. Senanayake dreamt of. That is what S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike dreamt of. Today we are at the threshold of that dream coming true. This unity is essential to build the nation and protect the country. We have put a full stop to the politics of hate that prevailed to date. We have put a stop to both drugs and hatred. Let us replace the politics of hate with the politics of brotherhood. This is the only way to usher in a New Sri Lanka. Let us wish and pray for it. I dream for the day when the Sinhalese, Tamil and Muslim children who welcomed me to Weerawila today, go arm in arm to Jaffna. I also dream of how they get in from Palali and get off together from Weerawila. That should be the dream of all of us.
You would remember that when introducing the Mahinda Chintana we said the Land of Sri Lanka and its maritime zone and the air space have been identified as valuable assets of our people. What we have initiated from Weerawila today, is maximum utilization of the air space to achieve socio-economic development, in addition to the safeguarding the country.
The international airport that is to be constructed in Weerawila will be the centre of speedy development of the whole country, not only of the South. Weerawila will be linked to the international transportation network which is the most efficient, safe, systematic and fastest mode of transport in the world.
As it has been planned a 4000 meter long and 75 meter wide modern runway will be constructed. The world's largest aircraft - the A380 capable of carrying 800 passengers will be able to land here. I have given instructions to build this with a capacity to handle 2m passengers a year. This is only the beginning. Just imagine how useful it would have been if we had an airport like this, when the LTTE attacked Katunayake, and at the time of the tsunami devastation.
To construct this airport we had to acquire about 4000 hectares of land that belong to the people. It is not that we don't know it is an inconvenience to the innocent people who are affected. But in carrying out tasks that are important for the country and its future, it is necessary to make big sacrifices. When the Hon. Gamini Dissanayake constructed massive reservoirs such as Mahaweli and Victoria reservoirs people of those areas had leave their traditional homes and go to Girandurukotte and Dehiattakandiya. However, under the construction of this airport, I have instructed to give alternate lands and compensation, sometimes more than the assessed value, to those who lose their lands. At the same time, you should not forget the fact that with the construction of this airport the small village of Weerawila will become a powerful city in the world, and the future of your children will depend on its environs. Besides that, in this sea off Hambantota where more than 180 ships pass in a day, it is necessary that we make them to anchor there. We will have to supply water, food, fuel necessary for those ships. That is how a country should be developed.
I do not like to sell to you the traditional myth that the country cannot be developed due to North- East conflict. That the development of the came to a halt, because we had to spend for national defence is not in my vocabulary. You all should be ready to tirelessly work towards achieving development. I am not a man to be deceived by bogus reports and so-called progress reports. I am a man with my feet firmly set on ground and having my ears tuned to the earth. Therefore, my appeal to you is; "Let us work for the future victory of the country". It is only by doing so that we will be truly able to Crown the Nation.
I sincerely thank all who took pains to make this occasion a success, and wish that this airport would be the first chapter in the development saga of Sri Lanka. I specially that Minister Mangala Samaraweera, the Government Agent, Hambantota and the political leadership of the area as well as all political parties who joined hands with me for the last year's historic victory,
I wish you all a bright future; and
The blessings of the Triple Gem and all deities
Thank you!
