Sri Lankan Tamil business community has pledged their full support to Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse to elect him as the next President, Daily News reported Monday.

The community made the decision on the basis of being the only leader who has a pragmatic approach to solve the country's burning issues, the paper said.

The community consisting of over 1,000 businessmen were of the firm view that all patriots should rally round Rajapakse and extend their fullest support to make him the next President.

They said because he was a leader who was not confined only to rhetoric but had a practical and systematic approach for solving the problems facing the country.

Addressing Tamil businessmen last Friday, Rajapakse asserted that on being elected President, he will resume peace talks with the Tamil Tigers and bring permanent and sustainable peace and steer the country to prosperity within an environment where all communities abide by the law and live in harmony with one another.

Source: Xinhua