Courtesy The Daily Mirror

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said yesterday that everything promised to the people to fulfill within five years will be fulfilled in the next three years.

The President assured during the opening the Mirigama-Kurunegala section of the Central Expressway that as a leader descended from a farming family, he would always take the lead in protecting the farmer.

President Rajapaksa said that he would not forget the youths who had cultivated barren paddy lands when he came to power and invited them to join once again.

The President said that he had instructed the Minister of Agriculture to empower the farmers by purchasing paddy for Rs. 95 even.

“There is no competition with the media. We have come to power to develop the country,” the President said.

He invited the media to be a partner in the country’s development. The President also called on all public representatives and government officials to come together to work for the people of the country without being discouraged by false propaganda.

The Mirigama-Kurunegala section of the Central Expressway was opened to the public yesterday by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.         
The Ethugalpura Entrance, the second phase of the Central Expressway which spans 40.91 km in distance, has five interchanges at Mirigama, Nakalagamuwa, Dambokka, Kurunegala and Yaggapitiya.

Rs. 149 billion has been spent for this by the government. This section of road was constructed by local contractors and engineers.