North cannot be considered less privileged today - President

With the rapid development taking place in the North under the “Uthuru Wasanthaya” (Northern Spring) programme, the North now cannot be called a less privileged or remote area, stated President Mahinda Rajapaksa and stressed he is committed to serve all the people in this country regardless of ethnic, religious or cultural differences.

The President said so at the United People’s Freedom Alliance’s (UPFA) Mannar district rally held yesterday (08) at the Mannar Urban Council Sports Stadium under the theme “Sapiri Gamak-Supiri Ratak” (an abundant village-a self-sufficient nation).

The benefits of development should reach all citizens of this country, be it North, South, East or West, the President said. “We are one nation, we must treat everyone equally”, he added.

We carried out development programmes while fighting terrorism. People in the North are able to carry out their livelihoods without obstacle. Fishing has commenced and the Government has taken steps to find solutions to the problems faced by fishermen.

“We must rally round the programmes which develop the village”, President Rajapaksa said.

The Government has already commenced establishing one million domestic economic units. We will transform a family to a domestic economic unit and through this we expect to strengthen their economic level, he said, the Government Information Department reports.