14 April 2010 05:34 am
In a message to mark the Sinhala and Tamil New Year the Sri Lankan envoy noted that all Sri Lankans in the US must, as one community, continue to support Sri Lanka’s progress and combine efforts to help everyone in Sri Lanka as the recovery from the war continues.
“At long last the fight against terrorism has been won and signs of stability and future development are everywhere. Two important signs of progress were the elections that have just been held – the January 26 Presidential Election and last week’s April 8 Parliamentary vote. In both, Sri Lankans gave President Mahinda Rajapaksa a resounding endorsement to continue his vision of reconciliation and redevelopment,” Ambassador Wickramasuriya said.
He further added that President Rajapaksa’s re-election means that development programs in Sri Lanka will not only continue, but expand and the Parliamentary election, which gave the United People’s Freedom Alliance a clear majority, means the fluid continuation of policies that brought about peace.
“The world now recognizes the strategic significance and economic potential of Sri Lanka’s lasting peace. This New Year offers a golden chance for Sri Lanka to leap forward as a unified nation,” he said.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton earlier this week issued her own New Year greeting, noting that, “Every year this celebration brings the hope of new beginnings and fresh promise, but this year it carries added resonance. For the first time in decades, Sri Lankans from all parts of the island can celebrate together in a peaceful and united country.” (Daily Mirror online)