Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has launched his son Namal into active politics ahead of the April 8 parliamentary polls in which the 23-year- old would contest from the southeastern Hambantota district.
Namal, the eldest of President Rajapaksa's three sons, addressed a massive gathering in Tangelle town of Hambantota on Thursday in the presence of his parents.
"I received my education at my mother's pre-school. I am proud that I was able to learn the basics under the guidance of my mother," Namal, who runs an NGO called 'Tharunyata Hetak' which is involved in public welfare projects, said amid a huge applause.
"In the same way I am very fortunate to have been able to take the first step in politics at this age due to the lessons learnt from my father," he said after touching the feet of his parents to seek their blessings.
He also symbolically presented his first official document to his father, marking beginning of his political journey, as his emotional mother Shiranthi stood praying with folded hands.
On the occasion, president Rajapaksa said politics should not be based on violence or vindictiveness. With the last Presidential elections on January 26 'we have ended both these evil trends in the political arena of our country,' said Rajapaksa, who had defeated the opposition candidate and former army chief Sarath Fonseka in the polls.
The government was able to save the country from 'another bloodbath' recently, President Rajapaksa said addressing the first general election campaign meeting at Tangalle town in support of the candidature of Namal.
"For the first time in the history of elections in this country, everyone from those in the state service to the villagers at the grassroots level was threatened. But we were able to wipe out politics of terror with the last presidential election," he said.
"And as you know one cannot get the love or respect of the community by demanding them but by working honestly for the people," the president said.
"That was the reason why the people reposed trust in us. We have placed our second manifesto Mahinda 'Chintana Idiri Dekma' programme for rapid socio-economic national development that would be implemented by us in the future," he said.
Pointing out that he had two more years to complete his first term in office, Rajapaksa said he decided to hold the Presidential polls in advance, as he was 'keen to carry forward the development of the country.'
The people in the country's East and North had not witnessed a democratic election in the past 30 years, he said, adding they got the opportunity to vote for the first time.
"It is not important now whether they gave me a mandate. I will serve each one impartially as I am President not only for those who voted for me but for all people," he said.
Image: Namal Rajapaksa
Photograph courtsey: namalrajapaksa.com
