WE ENDED FEAR
* Bestowed the greatest gift
of peace
* Stopped era where parents
hid their children
President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday said the
people in the North and South were bestowed with the greatest gift
of freedom by the government after three decades of conflict.
The government is taking every possible effort to
provide what is required for the people, he said.
The President stressed the government ensured the
people's right to live in the country free from fear and
intimidation. He said a peaceful environment dawned for all children
to pursue their education without fear and make use of the
facilities made available to them by the government.
President Rajapaksa insisted that the government
is providing what is needed for the people irrespective of the
remarks made by the opposition. He added the country ended an era in
which parents feared for their children's safety.
President Rajapaksa was speaking at the
inauguration of the central functioning building complex of the
Jaffna Teaching Hospital yesterday.
He said there was an era where the children were
hidden by their parents.
"Our responsibility is to ensure the health,
prosperity and protection of the younger generation," he said.
This building complex consisting of 10 surgical
theatres, an ICU unit, laboratory, cancer early detection centre and
many other facilities is a donation from the government and the
people of Japan.
The Japanese government provided a grant of Rs
2,550 million for the project through the Japanese International
Cooperation Agency (JICA).
The President inspected the facilities made
available for patients at the new building complex after unveiling
the plaque.
President Rajapaksa said the people do not see
what the government has done for them and they are also in the habit
of pointing out shortcomings.
He said the government is making very possible
effort to iron out its shortcomings.
President Rajapaksa expressed his gratitude to the
government and the people of Japan for providing assistance for the
construction of the new wing of the Jaffna Teaching Hospital.
The President said the people in the entire
Northern Province benefit from this project.
"Over 0.5 million people in the district receive
treatment at this hospital," he said.
He said the government is in the process of
rebuilding everything destroyed by the terrorists over a period of
three decades.
Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena, Small
Enterprise Development Minister Douglas Devananda, Defence Secretary
Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Japanese ambassador to Sri Lanka Nubuhito Hobo
and JICA officials were also present.
Courtesy : Daily News |
