He said the previous government’s actions had discouraged investors.
Speaking at his first public rally since being elected President, Rajapaksa said the first priority of his administration has been national security and that has been bolstered.
“We have appointed competent officers to handle security and Intelligence and therefore there is no danger of terrorism or religious extremism to arise,” he said.
The President inaugurated a project that will repair and upgrade 100,000 kilometres of farm-to-market roads in rural areas of the island. The first road is 52 kilometres long and will be from Peradeniya through Deltota to Rikillagaskada in the central Kandy district.
Costing Rs. 600 million the project is expected to cut driving times from one end to the other by 45 minutes, a Press Release from the Presidential Secretariat said.
Rajapaksa said that a large network of drug dealers has been revealed to the government and promised to take action to safeguard the young people of this country from this menace.
The President pledged to safeguard the independence of the judiciary and through that offer equal opportunity for all.
He went on to say that efforts to alleviate extreme poverty will be pursued and the plan to offer 100,000 jobs t unemployed youth was a step towards that.
Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and several Minister were also at the event.