Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse has vowed to continue military action against the LTTE till "every inch of land" in the North is liberated.
COLOMBO: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse has vowed to continue military action against the LTTE till "every inch of land" in the North is liberated.
Addressing a well-attended rally in a gem-mining centre of Sri Lanka, 101 kms South-east of Colombo, the President on Sunday said the armed action against LTTE will not cease "until such time every inch of land is liberated (from the tigers) and the last terrorist destroyed".
Rajapakse also sought to dispel any misgivings on the human rights situation in the island country saying people's rights were being safeguarded.
He said even the embattled Northern and Eastern Sri Lanka did not witness any situation suggestive of gross violation of human rights. Speaking in Sinhala, the President pointed out that Sri Lanka, under his government, was a very strong and stable democracy.
He said the country "need not under any circumstances beg before the international community on bended knees," the state owned "Daily News" reported on Monday.
"We are no longer a poor country thriving on aid and subsidies of the world. Our per capita income has risen to $1,625 now. We need not put our head down to anybody, but we are prepared to listen to constructive criticism and prudent advice of others," the President said.
Nevertheless, the President said certain groups were seeking to undermine the ongoing mega development programmes and those in the pipeline.
"Some groups including sections of the media indulge in a slanderous and misleading campaign to deprive the country of international aid and disrupt development", the daily quoted Rajapakse as saying. He said the LTTE too was using all means at its disposal to obtain benefits from these groups.
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