By Walter Jayawardhana

The land mass of the nation had been divided under an agreement reached with the terrorists. Gallant soldiers had to put up a very brave fight at the risk of losing their lives and limbs to take back the illegally granted land said President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing a ceremony in Colombo to mark the granting of land to 2000 landless families from several districts of the island.

The granting of entitlements to the people of fourteen varied districts like Batticaloa , Puttlam and Kurunegala took place at the Temple Trees, the official residence of the President.

ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-After beating the terrorists in a war of two and half years in which we lost some brave soldiers that was very hard on us we were able to take back our lost land. It is the duty of every one to to protect it, ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚said President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday.

The President said during a ruthless war of 30 years thousands died . Following an agreement signed by the leader of the country part of the land had been given to a terrorist group. The terrorists did not let the land go without a fight. They were indeed defeated at the hands of the gallant soldiers finally, the President said.

Rajapaksa said, in a glorious achievement the land has now been returned to the people.

The President said, ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-It is the responsibility of all to protect this country and not that of a single individual or a party. Political parties and the people are vested with this task.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚

Rebuilding and protecting a united nation and a country is the responsibility of everybody and not only the task of a government or a political party , Rajapaksa said.

He further said his government , under the same Ran Bima scheme so far had given land to hundreds of thousand people. He reminded the audience that the grant of land to the landless was a pledge presented in the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Mahinda ChinthanaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚, the PresidentƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s election promises at the last Presidential election.