22 November 2011 04:35 pm Views - 5026
The threats to the nation and the country still remain intact though the heroic soldiers who were able to save the mother-land from terrorism and the government had no choice but to set aside the largest amount of funds possible for the defence of the country, from the budget for 2012, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said.
Delivering the Convocation Address of the ‘General Sir John Kotalawala Defence University’ last afternoon at Temple Trees, President Rajapaksa said there was no end to the challenges confronted by Sri Lanka despite the obliteration of LTTE terrorism two years ago.
“The opposition keeps asking why such a large amount of budgetary allocations has been proposed for the defence ministry. They must realise that while taking measures to face local and global anti-national elements the government has to pay salaries and allowances to the armed forces, provide welfare to Ranaviru families and parents of war heroes who paid the supreme sacrifice for the territorial integrity and peace of the mother-land,” President Rajapajksa emphasised. (Sandun A. Jayasekera)