KANDY: President Mahinda Rajapaksa, addressing a gathering of political leaders of the Central Province at the Kandy Janadhipathi Mandiraya on Tuesday (22), urged opposition and UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe to stop politics of hatred.

Ranil Wickremesinghe at a meeting held in Kandy recently, had prayed seven times for lightning to strike the President and his family, the President said.

There was continuous mud slinging at him during the 2005 presidential election by one prominent UNP MP who later apologized, he said.

He told the gathering of UPFA leaders and organizers in the Central Province that he had with him personal files containing important documents, copies of court orders on those who sling mud at him. But, he said he did not wish to utilize them to sling mud at them in return.

He said he had the experience of over forty years in politics. His father, his uncle was in politics from the days of the State Council. "The history of politics of my family goes back to 1936. "But today's fight is between one with 40 years experience in politics and another who has only 40 days of experience in politics. That difference should be the margin of my victory in this election," he said.

"We were with the people and without the support and goodwill of the people we would not have achieved success."

President Rajapaksa made reference to the existing price hikes and shortages of essential consumer articles. He said he was aware of a scarcity of rice in the market. A similar scarcity of consumer goods existed during 1977 period. At that time there was no elephant brand boxes of matches. There was no soap. Denawaka Hamine (film star) said her body scratched because she could not buy Lux soap in shops. But following the JR victory all those items appeared on the pavements and shops on the following day. The traders had hidden those goods just to put the blame on the SLFP government

"We learnt that some traders were selling rice only if the customers purchased articles worth over Rs. 1000. To overcome this situation the government has contacted countries such as Pakistan, Philippines and Vietnam to import rice. We are compelled to resort to alternative measures to bring redress to the people.

"We have taken steps to find employment for the unemployed.

The government has raised the public service cadre to 1.2 million personnel. In 2005 the public service cadre was at 700,000. The UNP administration was planning to reduce the number to 600,000," he said.

The UNP government of Ranil Wickremesinghe sold out the public assets to the private sector. Amidst numerous financial problems the present government had safeguarded the public service and State assets. Meanwhile the government had introduced the ‘Mathata Thitha’ programme in spite of the reduction of State revenue. There were only around 250,000 tax-payers. The government had lost revenue from liquor and cigarettes. The government had protected the children and the future generation from being drug addicts, and victims of other forms of vice.

President Rajapaksa said, he was able to crush the LTTE terrorism despite the opposition of both internal and international forces. Many world leaders tried to influence him to stop the operations against terrorism. He said he could convince those leaders. Some of them came to meet him personally. Some had talks even at the lake bund of Embilipitiya.

Due to the friendly and independent relations, many foreign countries came to our assistance at difficult times. Iran was such a country that supplied oil under a concessionary arrangement, he said.

The President said, many were now trying to take the credit for the success of the operations against terrorism.

"One person who was entrusted with the job of heading the army is now making an attempt to gain the credit of the victory. We cannot forget that a large number of factors contributed to the victory, and can not be attributed to one man who was appointed to head the army".

Minister Dilan Perera, Deputy Minister Vadivel Suresh, Governor Central Province Tikiri Kobbekaduwa and S. B. Dissanayake also addressed the meeting.

Ministers Dr. Sarath Amunugama, Dr. Keheliya Rambukwella, D. M. Jayaratne, Chief Minister Sarath Ekanayake, General Anuruddha Ratwatte and several others were present.