COLOMBO, Nov 19: Mahinda Rajapakse, who on Sunday completed one year in office as the fifth executive president of Sri Lanka, reiterated his stand that he would not allow the partition of the country as sought by the Tamil Tiger rebels.

In a speech to mark the laying of the foundation stone of the country’s second international airport in Weerawila southern Sri Lanka, Mr Rajapakse admitted that the Tamils had grievances which he said his government was committed to addressing.

What my government is committed to is to guard the territorial integrity of the country and to protect it against the menace of terrorism. There are thousands of Tamils who do not support terrorism but who follow Tamil leaders who believe in democracy, the president said while addressing residents of Weerawila, a village in the deep south of the country.

For Mahinda Rajapakse, the past one year has been exacting and strenuous.

As defence analysts point out, it was in the first month that Mr Rajapakse faced his most gruelling trial.