Never expected such respect and honour - SF
On renaming a road to honour service to the country
Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka yesterday said with the horrendous experience he had to face in the recent past, he had never expected an atmosphere where he is respected by the people in this country.
He observed this at the opening ceremony of the renovated road that was renamed after him in recognition of his services to the nation. The renamed Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka Mawatha connects Ananda Mawatha and Ketawalamulla running adjacent to White Park in Maligakanda, Colombo 10.
In collaboration with the Colombo Municipality and Urban Development Authority (UDA), the ceremony was held under the patronage of Buddha Sasana, Public Administration, Provincial Councils, Local Government and Democratic Governance Minister Karu Jayasuriya.
Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, State Minister of Defence Ruwan Wijewardene, Colombo Mayor A. J. M. Musammil and several other officials attended the occasion.
“I faced so much trouble in the past. Under the governance of the dictator who claimed himself as the leader who finished the war, I never thought of being duly respected in this country again. I would like to make this ceremony an opportunity to thank the people who were behind me when I was in trouble,” Field Marshal Fonseka said. Meanwhile, Colombo Mayor A. J. M. Muzammil said that the President had been insisting on the completion of the renovation of this road. We had to remove several unauthorized structures in order to allow the traffic flow more smoothly. But, with the support of the UDA, we would offer a flat with all facilities in Grandpass at a cost of Rs. 4 million to those who were evacuated from these unauthorized structures. Earlier, the area residents however had staged a demonstration protesting against the renovating of the road that would cause their residences demolished. The Mayor also said that Field Marshal Fonseka had earlier intervened in this issue asking for a proper solution for the residents prior to the re-naming and opening of the road.