President says Opposition campaign to deceive masses with absurd allegations must be countered

• Stresses priority for national security then and now 
• Claims foreign forces oppose nationalism and patriotism 
• Says secured sovereignty by withdrawing external agreements detrimental to the country
• Says new Govt. made Lankan farmers rich instead of foreign farmers

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Saturday said Opposition has the freedom to make various allegations but the campaign to mislead the people by making absurd allegations cannot be allowed and must be countered.

“Recently, a statement made by an Opposition MP regarding the Easter Sunday attack was circulated in the media. It is a statement that directly concerns national security. Therefore, the CID investigated the matter. The MP who made the allegation gave conflicting answers to the CID such as ‘I forgot, lost memory, I don’t know’.  “The people should never be misled by making such baseless allegations,” the President pointed out at the 14th ‘Discussion with the Village’ program held at the Janapada Junior School premises in Galagoda East Grama Niladhari Division in the Hikkaduwa Divisional Secretariat Division of the Galle District.

He said the previous Government co-sponsored the resolution brought against us by the UN Human Rights Council. Rejecting that position, the present Government withdrew from co-sponsorship. 

“Promises made to the people are being systematically fulfilled. We have withdrawn from the agreements that were detrimental to the country, including the MCC Compact. Earlier, protestors were treated with tear gas and baton charges, now we have allotted a separate site for demonstrations,” the President said.  “Steps were taken to protect our farmers by building an agro-based economy while giving priority to national and local interests. The economic policy that has enriched the foreign farming community so far has been changed and the environment has been created to uplift our farmers by cultivating what can be grown in the country.”

It is in this context that the President stated that this is the first time that he has seen the Human Rights Council submitting a report with the highest number of allegations of human rights violations against the Government.

The ‘Discussion with the Village’ program commenced on 25 September from Badulla District. Thereafter programs were organised covering Matale, Ratnapura, Anuradhapura, Ampara, Polonnaruwa, Kalutara, Moneragala, Kegalle, Kandy, Puttalam, Trincomalee and Kurunegala districts. 

The ultimate goal of this program is to meet the people in the remote villages who have not been given due attention so far, inquire into their problems and immediately bring them to the notice of the officials and provide solutions. The other issues which take time to deal with are noted down to find solutions later. 

Most issues identified during the ‘Discussion with the Village’ program are immediately addressed giving consideration to the suggestions and recommendations of the villagers with the assistance of the State officials.

Galagoda East Grama Niladhari Division is located 7 km away from the town of Ambalangoda. It is bordered on the south and east by Madampawila Sanctuary and to the Kuligoda village in Hikkaduwa Divisional Secretariat Division on the west. 

Galagodawatta Tsunami Village, Galagoda Colony and Galagoda New Colony belong to the Grama Niladhari Division. It has a population of 3,711 comprising 1,072 families. Fishing, Agriculture, Cinnamon and Coir rope industries are the main livelihoods of the villagers.