A massive crowd of more than 30,000 gathered at the ground in spite of heavy rains, to pay their gratitude to the President. When the President entered the ground, the crowds started to cheer with photographs of the President in their hands.

Ministers Reginald Cooray, Nimal Siripala de Silva, Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Kumara Welgama, Tissa Witharana, Prof.G.L.Peiris, Mahinda Samarasinghe, Rohitha Abeygunawardena, Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Tissa Attanayake addressed the rally. Others who were present were Senior Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake, Minisgter Nirmala Kothalawala, Parliamentarian Vidura Wickremanayake and political representatives of the area. (KH)