24 more days and Yahapalanaya will be over : Mahinda Rajapaksa

COLOMBO (News 1st) - The Presidential candidate of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, addressed a number of rallies in the Kandy district earlier today (October 23). Both Mahinda Rajapaksa and SLPP presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa addressed the public at the events. Mahinda Rajapaksa: "Development stalled for 4 years. They are taking the lands and giving it to those from overseas. They are about to hand over Mattala. If all this was developed as Sri Lankan entities, your children would be the ones who benefit. A President must not be one who cuts back on sleep or one who sneaks into houses in the nights. He must protect and steer the country. There are also a number of murders. The underworld has raised its head since the day this Government took office. This has to stop. We cannot let anyone destroy people. I would like to remind you that we have a responsibility to protect this country from this drug and underworld menace." Gotabaya Rajapaksa: "I think more than completing the war, our victories lie in the post-war era. The victories we obtained. The development. We developed the entire North and East, areas which were ravaged by the war. We were able to provide security to the people. But this Government, caving into foreign forces and NGO's, broke the mentality of our forces. Projects we began back then were brought to a halt. We were to finish the upcountry highway by 2018. But they have not even begun it. But with the current situation, we have about 4 years of work left. How important is an international airport to a country? It has such potential for development. This is a group that didn't have brains, so resorted to storing paddy at the airports. To belittle Mahinda Rajapaksa, they belittled the whole country." Gotabaya Rajapaksa then proceeded to another rally in Gampola town. Mahinda Rajapaksa: "This Government came in and even taxed the betel leaf. Everywhere you look its VAT. There is no end to the tax. They are ripping off the people. Our system is to take taxes similar to how a bee takes honey from a flower. You cannot destroy the people and then impose taxes on them. Now to estate workers. We said we will give Rs 1000. That is certain. We will get them Rs 1000. But some are promising figures they cannot deliver. They are making promises by the bunch. They are saying one lie to the army, another to the police, another to the workers. They are trying to go on this journey by lying to the average citizen. There is not much longer left for the Yahapalana Government. Just 24 days. Yahapalanaya will then be over." Gotabaya Rajapaksa: "We made Colombo a city where people can live. We worked to get rid of shacks and housing of that nature. We built apartments and upgraded the lives of about 3 million. We began some projects. We didn't even have to spend state funds. Foreign companies came in and invested. They brought in a proposal for a project to improve the lives of all those living in slums in Colombo. They went to court with false allegations and tried to delay the project. But we began the project. This government came in and then distributed the apartments posting their pictures on the walls. We always treated things carefully. Now you are aware of the lies. The Muslim community, at one point, was almost completely against Mahinda Rajapaksa. But what has happened today? All the businesses have fallen apart. Do not buy into these lies."