President Mahinda Rajapaksa today launched his election manifesto “Mahinda Chinthana-Lowa Dinana Maga” for the upcoming Presidential Election at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) in Colombo.

Rajapaksa, who will be seeking a third term in office as the Presidential Candidate of the ruling UPFA, presented the manifesto to the Maha Sangha at the event.

Delivering his speech, the President said that this Mahinda Chintana, Part III, document envisages to prepare and elevate the nation to the levels of developed nations.

“The 3rd Edition of Mahinda Chinthana will elevate our nation to the next level,” he said.

He urged voters to listen to their heart and decide whether they require stability and progress or uncertainty and regress.

Rajapaksa said that unlike other candidates he has only one agreement, and that is “Mahinda Chinthana”

He stated that election promises are something that is forgotten within a couple of months, however assured that the ‘Mahinda Chinthana’ is not a document of promises that will be forgotten.

He stated that today, the State Sector strength is 1.4 million and that the country cannot go back to the era of privatising government sector.

“We will not allow the nation go backward towards uncertain times again,” he emphasized.

Rajapaksa further declared that he can proudly say he possesses hands which have never issued a single casino license or bar license.

Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (People’s United Front) leader, Dinesh Gunawardena addressing the gathering on behalf of party leaders of UPFA, stated that it was President Rajapaksa who unified the nation, after the 5 heads of state that preceded him failed.

A large number of religious leaders, politicians of the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) and coalition partners also attended the ceremony.

The President introduced his first manifesto at the 2005 Presidential election under the theme Mahinda Chinthanaya and his election manifesto for the 2010 Presidential election was Mahinda Chinthana Idiri Dekma.

The new manifesto to be launched today is said to be based on the 2005 and 2010 election manifestos and may contain more pragmatic policies for social and economic development of the country.

President Rajapaksa's Election Manifesto. Mahinda Chinthana Lowa Dinana Maga - (Sinhala version) by deranapics