"As the leader of the UPFA candidates contesting the Matara District and as a person who had won many challenges in life, I am prepared to shoulder the responsibility of developing the South," former SPC Minister, Hemal Gunasekara said at a public meeting following the opening of an election propaganda office at Karaputugala in Kamburupitiya.

"Our leader, President Mahinda Rajapaksa has shown us how to overcome challenges and we are following in his footsteps."

The forthcoming SPC election on October 10th would be a historic one for the people of South. "This election is the first to be held after the fierce war against LTTE terrorists".

For nearly 3 decades the people had to suffer untold hardships due to war. Those who ran governments in the past abandoned all development activities in the South giving war as an excuse, but now as the country had won the war, it was the duty of all to work for the betterment of the people who had to tighten their belts in the past for the sake of the war.

"We are confident that we could accomplish that work successfully. "I am sure, the voters of the Matara District would place their confidence in the UPFA candidates and their leadership at the SPC polls."