President requests patriotic citizens : join us in building Northern
rail track
* The last Yal Devi train to operate between Colombo
and Jaffna was in 1990.
* Service terminated at Vavuniya.
* Yal Devi was the largest revenue earner for the Sri
Lanka Railways.
Addressing a representative gathering on the occasion
of the launch of the Colombo - Jaffna railway track extension project at
President's Office yesterday, President Mahinda Rajapaksa requested all
patriotic citizens to join in building the rail track.
"Every single sleeper on this rail track should show
the love for a united country. All those who love the country should
join to build this track.
"I wish that the Yal Devi rail track that would be
constructed would show to the entire world the desire of our people to
live in one country," he said. By reconstructing the Yal Devi Railway
line we are defending the North, he said. "Yal Devi resonated with the
pulse of the Sri Lankan nation. In a sense, Yal Devi is a cultural
messenger," he added.
The President requested the Transport Minister to run
the Yal Devi train at least five more kilometres beyond Vavuniya by
April 23 next and consolidate the nation's resolve.
The President while promising to donate his April
salary to the project called upon all patriotic citizens to contribute
to it.
"The reconstruction of the 28 railway stations between
Vavuniya and Jaffna would be undertaken by the people in the southern
districts.
"The Hambantota district has already undertaken to
rebuild the Jaffna railway station.
The President also called upon India, China. Pakistan,
Japan and other countries that helped Sri Lanka in the struggle against
terrorism to come forward and assist in the reconstruction so that
terrorism would not be able to raise its head again.
President Rajapaksa promised to donate his April
salary towards the project. Several others, including President's Office
staff, Artistes Deepika Priyadarshini Peiris, Parliamentarian
Puthrasigamany, Malini Fonseka, Ravindra Randeniya and philanthropist
Jayantha Dharmadasa made their donations to the fund.
Transport Minister Dullas Allahaperuma also addressed
the ceremony. An official website for the said project was launched by
renowned Cricketer Muttiah Muralitharan on President Rajapaksa's
invitation.
Courtesy: Daily news
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