MR undeterred by undercurrents!

Saturday, 8 June 2013 01:07 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

President Mahinda Rajapaksa reiterated yesterday that the Government was undeterred by what he described as politically-tainted criticism with agendas against an otherwise progressive development path in the country.

“Ever since I assumed office in 2005, by April every year there is a chorus from the Opposition that we will collapse or fail. Despite such claims not coming true, I have been hearing this annually. In fact I am also waiting to see whether what the Opposition has been saying will happen,” said the President at the ceremonial launch of the 2012 Annual Report of the Ministry of Finance and Planning.

“Some people mistakenly term several of the important infrastructure projects as a waste. They ask whether we need a new port and whether there are enough ships in the world to call at our ports. ‘Why another airport?’ and ‘we need pilots to drive away birds’ they ask. Why such a negativity and cynicism?” the President queried.

“Why are people being selfish to be talking of today’s needs only? Shouldn’t a country prepare for tomorrow?” the President queried during his speech and noted that infrastructure that had been completed so far and those planned were critical and beneficial and also keeping in mind the future generations.

“When we were borrowing funds for important development, project some staged protests outside foreign banks urging the latter not to lend. Citing human rights claims, they also lobbied with development partners not to lend to Sri Lanka. There were moves against our fight to eradicate terrorism as well. We will not be deterred by narrow political criticism and agendas,” Rajapaksa told the ceremony, attended by several Ministers, senior officials, donor agencies, bankers, business leaders, farmer organisations and trade unions.