By Dr.Levins T C Rajaratnam, Media Secretary to the Foreign Minister

Minister Rohitha Bogollagama addressed three meetings in Avissawela on Saturday, October 10 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. The Minister stressed on the need of education, housing, nutrition and sports , care for the elders and senior citizens, the encouragement and deveoplment of Temples and the participation in religious activities for a better understanding and living.

At the first meeting in the Thunnala area the residents complained about the controversial land dispute in the Thunnala area regarding the firing range and the demarcation of land and requested the Minister to help them.

The second and the thirds meetings were held in Diggana and the heart of Avissawella where the Minister addressed vital issues regarding education, development, better roads, improvements to schools, playgrounds and sports. In this regards several sports equipment such as volleyballs, nets, Cricket bats and wickets were donated together with bicycles to the residents of Avissawella. The main objective of the meetings were to hear the grievances of the people and to encourage the elders and youth with their daily lives to create a better society and to create a patriotic attitude amongst the people with the leasdership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The Minister also stressed that he like the folks around had free education and acknnowledging CWW Kannangara for the concept of free education, he stressed he had an obligation by society to serve the nation as a gratitude with a patriotic attitude. He also stated that he was elected from the Kurunegala district but now the President had appointed him as the Chief organizer of the Kotte are which comes within the Colombo district which includes Avissawella and that he was particularly keen to develop the Avissawella area and encourage the residents both elders and the youth in every field to accelerate people’s participation with patriotic attitude to stregthen the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Minister Bogollagama attacked Ranil Wickremasinghe and Mangala Samaraweera for their unpatriotic statements and stated that Ranil Wickremasinghe showed his weakness by signing the ceasefire agreement with Velupillai Pirabaharan.

Minister Bogollagama ‘s meeting were atttended by hundred of people and he was given a warm welcome. He won the hearts of the people who acknowledge that he was the first Foreign Minister to visit these areas. The people were emotionally moved by his words and kind gesture.

Several SLFP and UPFA politicians weree present at the meetings held.