Today, on the first day of the month of January in the year 2010, the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, daringly marks the beginning of a decade of   development. Ending the cruel terrorist scourge that enmeshed not only the Northern and Eastern Provinces but the country as a whole has been totally annihilated and our Motherland has now been united as one Nation. Let us dedicate in the new decade beginning from today to totally commit ourselves to accomplish the enormous challenges facing the country in its development struggle as a united people of a single Nation , single country , held by one flag.