4.4.2008
Sixty years is a small interlude to
a country with a history adn civilization dating back more
than 2500 years. Yet, this 60th anniversary of Independence
has its own significance as it marks the period since we
achieved freedom after nearly half a millennium of colonial
rule, and made our mark as a free people in the community
of nations.
Sri Lanka has cause to be proud of her many achievements
in this period, in many of which she stands out as an exaple
to other countries in our region and the larger developing
world, too. We stand unique with the longest tradition of
representative democracy in Asia. As one of the first developing
countries to promote universal healthcare and education,
gender equality and social mobilization, we have been able
to achieve exceptional socio-economic indicators; way ahead
of those normally expected of a country in the lower middle
income range, and today we are moving to achieving or surpassing
many of the Millennium Developent Goals. In recent years
we have also seen a welcome rise in the per capita income
of our people, once again ahead of the larger engines of
growtth in our region. Significantly, it is despite the
raveges of brutal terrorism of 25 years that we have been
able to notch these gains in social development.
As
we complete sixty years of freedom there are two main
challenges before us. One is the challenge of eradicating
terrorism and the other is that of eradicating poverty.
With regard to the first there is cause for satisfaction
that the entire Eastern Province has now been cleared
of terrorism. The moves to eradicate it from the North
are still under way, with good expectations for success.
We owe a heavy debt of gratitude to the security forces
for their exemplary work in the battle against terror.
Poverty
alleviation requires more equitable economic development
in the country, taking the fruits of progress to the many
regions that have been neglected in the development plans
since Independence, and those that have suffered due to
terrorism and the battle against it. My governmnet has
already initiated several measures to expedite development
in hitherto neglected rural areas, including the Eastern
Province which is seeing new awakening, with freedom from
terror.
While
facing up to these challenges, it is also necessary to
ensure equity in the rights enjoyed by all our people
who in their rich diversity of language, religion and
culture make up the Sri Lankan nation.
Having
completed sixty years of measurable success amidst turbelence,
and progress despite many an obstacle, we should look
forward to the hard work that still lies ahead in our
efforts to forge true unity as a nation, moving away from
the divisions and suspicions that have held us back in
the past, and proceed with determination to the daring
new world of opportunity that lies ahead.
Let
us renew our pledge to move in unity towards a New Sri
Lanka
Malinda
Rajapaksa
Courtesy
- Government Information