Updated on Wednesday, December 10, 2008, 00:00 IST

Colombo, Dec 10: Warning that the LTTE is trying to bring down the government through armed attacks, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has said his administration is determined to root out terrorism to enable people lead a peaceful life in the country.

"Government should be defeated by the people's vote. The terrorists in the North are trying to overthrow the government by the gun," Rajapaksa said.

Asserting that the liberation of East has brought in a great amount of freedom for the local populace, the President said, "We will liberate this country from the clutches of terrorism."

Rajapaksa said he remembered that even to visit the Madhu shrine in Mannar one had to take the permission of the LTTE before it was liberated.

"Due to the North and East being joined and ceded to terrorists, not only civilians and officials but the Prime Minister of the country too had to obtain the permission of the terrorists to move in these areas," he said.

Rajapaksa was speaking at the commissioning of the Kerawalapitiya Combined Cycle Power Station in Western Sri Lanka yesterday.

Sri Lanka's electricity demand is growing by 8 per cent annually and the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) decided to set up the Kerawalapitiya plant to tally with the demand, according to officials.

Sri Lankan authorities hope the Kerawalapitiya power built at a cost of USD 300 million will be able to minimise the power crisis in the country.

Bureau Report