President Rajapaksa has emphasized that the fate of the nation cannot be entrusted to a handful. The Government as well as the public should take the forefront against communalism. He underlined that the Government is not all prepared to betray the sovereignty of the country.
Pointing out that the Government vehemently rejected attempts made to incite racial hatred spreading rumours, the President said that no room will be left to betray a community to another community.
The President was speaking at the opening ceremony of the bunkering facilities at the Magam Ruhunapura Mahinda Rajapaka Harbour. The President declared open the oil tank farm constructed at a cost of US$ 76 million with Chinese investment. Thereafter the President arrived at the Harbour complex and opened the new fuel supply terminal of the harbor amidst the chanting of Seth Pirith.
The release of the first stock of oil from this terminal took place under the patronage of the President. After the first related cheque was handed over to the President, he in turn presented it to the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority. The Oil Tank Farm comprises three tanks each with a capacity of 10 thousand cubic metres, three tanks each with a capacity of five thousand cubic metres and one tank with a capacity of 3000 cubic metres. Two tanks each with a capacity of 10 thousand cubic metres and one tank with a capacity of 3000 cubic metres for the supply of fuel to aircraft have also been built.
Addressing the function, the President said that there is no other Port like the Hambantota Harbour which drew criticism and its not very far that the Ruhunu Magampura Harbour would transform our country into a marine hub. He pointed out that the responsibility of the Opposition should be to extend their support for the development of the country.
The President said that before long the Ruhuna Magampura Harbour will turn another important page in the country’s history. It has been possible to include the Oil Storage and the Fuel terminal to the Harbour. As such another pledge given to the make the motherland a Harbour and a marine sphere. He said he was glad if the Opposition members visited the Harbour and examined the situation. He said it was fertility that was being filled in the Harbour and not water. There should be an opposition in the country to lend a helping hand for development. There should be one policy. All the work is being done on behalf of the people. It is finally the people who will benefit from this Harbour.
Without betraying the country at a time when peace has been enthroned, everyone should unite as Sri Lankans when development is progressing within a peaceful climate. It is not possible to develop a country dividing as Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim communities. Everyone should unite and take to the habit of respecting each other. He recalled that the Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims were massacred by the terrorists in the past. He added that no one was permitted to profess their faith.
Ministers Rohitha Abeygunawardena, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Pavithra Wanniarachcii and Salinda Dissanayake, Parliamentarians Namal Rajapaksa, Uva Chief Minister Shashindra Rajapaksa, Presidential Chief of Staff Gamini Senarath, Secretary to the Ministry of Ports, Highways and Shipping Ranjith Premasiri and Chairman of the Ports Authority Priyath Banduwickrema were among those present on the occasion.
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