President Mahinda Rajapaksa says the number of soldiers based in the North has been reduced to 12,000 following the end of the war.

He said that around 60,000 – 75,000 soldiers were based in the North during the conflict but now there are only around 12,000 soldiers.

Speaking to the public after opening the new Thelipallai Trail cancer hospital in Jaffna today, the President said that the Government will ensure equal treatment for all communities in the country.

He said that no race can suppress another race in Sri Lanka and the Government will not leave room for such an attempt.

“Our blood is the same. There is no green, yellow or black blood,” he said.

The President also said that following the end of the war the Government had a short period of time to address most issues.

He said that within a short period of time the Government was able to resettle over 300,000 war displaced people, rebuild the war damaged areas and also release rehabilitated former LTTE cadres.

The President also said that by holding elections, including provincial council elections, the Government was able to ensure the people were able to exercise their democratic rights.

Northern Province Chief Minister C.V Wigneswaran and Government and opposition politicians including UNP MPs Ruwan Wijeywardena, Harsha de Silva and Eran Wickremeratne were also present at the event.

Speaking in Tamil to the public, the President spoke on the importance of the new cancer hospital for the North. He said the people of the North will stand to benefit from the new hospital.

Source: Colombo Gazette (Sri Lanka)