Prime Minister and UPFA Presidential candidate Mahinda Rajapakse on a sudden visit to Jaffna yesterday – a day after a similar visit by his main rival - attacked the UNP as hypocrites, who once robbed the rights of the Tamil community and now posed as saviours.

“Who torched the priceless treasures of the Jaffna Public Library, who were the people who triggered the July 1983 riots, Who plundered the votes at the Jaffna District Development Council elections in 1981,” Mr. Rajapakse asked at a public rally at the Nadeswara College, Jaffna.

Mr. Rajapakse who visited the northern capital a day after UNP leader and Presidential candidate Ranil Wickremesinghe visited Palaly to sell his peace package to the troops, said the UNP’s catastrophic policies had turned ballots into bullets with disastrous consequences for all.

Mr. Rajapakse said the gun culture which began after the killing of Jaffna Mayor Alfred Duraiappah was now a domineering force in the north and he wanted to win the Presidency to ensure the reemergence of the voice of democracy in the North.

The Premier pledged that as president, he would work out a lasting and honourable peace without comprising the unitary character of the country.

Mr. Rajapakse said he would also ensure that Sinhala and Muslim people who had been chased out of Jaffna would be resettled there to foster ethnic harmony and cooperation.

In a concession to the Tamil people, Mr. Rajapakse said he hoped to pay compensation to those who were displaced by the high security zones.

He said the peace he had in mind was similar to the peaceful cooperation between the world famous cricket stars Muttiah Muralitheran and Sanath Jayasuriya.

Mr. Rajapakse said he could identify closely with the people of the north as the palm tree was common to them and his home town of Hambantota.

Mr. Rajapakse said that instead of a military war, he would focus on the war to eradicate poverty, give healthcare and education to all.