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Expatriates should counter false propaganda
By Shanika SRIYANANDA
 They ‘hit’ Sri Lanka again. Even after briniging peace,
reconciliation and development to the doorstep of the terror-stricken
North, they still endorse the terror of one of the world’s ruthless
terrorist outfits - the LTTE-, chasing behind the government and its
leadership to tie them with unfounded allegations. While overlooking the
acts of the blood stained LTTE, they either funded or influenced LTTE
remnants to strike against a nation which had the legitimate right to
save its people from the decades long blood bath.
The international community, which takes a double acting stance,
wanted to see this tiny nation and its people divided and those who
‘invested’ their knowledge, money, time, influential international links
and all their energy- to prevent the LTTE’s defeat- have cropped up in
the post conflict era through various means - by issuing statements,
through influence, filing Court cases, releasing videos and so on.
It is now the ‘battle’ against the pro-LTTE international threat that
the government is engaged in.
The same leader, who committed and believed that destroying the LTTE
was possible has to put his energy to defeat these external threats.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa is committed to the cause and positive, that
those who try to fix him and his men on false allegations would soon be
shown the door.
He believes that an effective pro-Sri Lankan campaign is among
several steps towards defeating pro-LTTE international ‘residuals’.
This was highlighted by the President when he met a group of Sri
Lankan expatriates from Europe and Australia at Temple Tress last week.
Emphasising an effective pro-Sri Lanka campaign through a strong
communication network to counter false publicity generated overseas by
the LTTE against the country, he said expats could play a lead role in
such a mechanism.
“It is the duty of our expatriates to counter this disinformation and
build healthy public opinion in the West for Sri Lanka,” the President
appreciating the contribution made by Sri Lankans living abroad during
the period of the conflict and urged them to use their knowledge,
entrepreneurship and financial support to rebuild the country.
Sudden appearance
President Mahinda Rajapaksa made a sudden appearance wearing track
bottoms, took regular visitors at Independence Square, by surprise, last
Sunday. ‘Oh my God that’s President”, many joggers who were stupefied
whispered to one another.
The most protected citizen of the country walked leisurely, without
his large security contingent which is armed with sophisticated weapons,
along Independence Avenue, which was crowded with joggers on Sunday.
This sent the message that the country was safe after many decades.
The President, after completing a meeting had suddenly suggested that
he should take a stroll to enjoy and have a first hand experience of the
freedom that he brought to the country after defeating the LTTE. Having
a half-an-hour walk, with his warm smile, President Rajapaksa stopped
for a few minutes to talk to other joggers who frequent Independence
Square and posed for photographs with them.
They thanked the President for bringing peace and freeing the country
from the clutches of LTTE terrorism.
Three-days after his walk at Independence Square, President Rajapaksa,
announced the lifting of emergency regulations in a special announcement
in Parliament.
“From the time when terrorist activities ended in May 2009 until
today there have been no reports of any terrorist activities, We have
also introduced internationally recognised laws and regulations to avoid
malpractice in monetary activities, exchange of goods, drug trafficking,
banking and financial risks carried out by terrorists engaged in further
nurturing terrorism. In addition to strengthening national security we
have through these laws and regulations worked towards pre-empting
opportunities for terrorism to emerge. We are proud to mention that our
government has succeeded in protecting law and order and peace through
rules and regulations approved by Parliament based on the Constitution.
Therefore, it is our responsibility to protect the democratic freedom
achieved after many years”.
It is under normal law that state administration, police and the
judiciary takes action against those who take the law into their own
hands and disturb peace and stability. This is a great victory achieved
by the people.
This success was possible because our heroic soldiers accomplished
the humanitarian operation with dedication and in an exemplary manner,
and the people of this country extended their generosity and patience.
We laid the foundation to strengthen our county as a rising democracy in
Asia.
For several years this Parliament has extended emergency regulations
every month. Some voted against it while some abstained. This august
assembly is enriched by representing all political parties in the
country.
Through this representation we can consider the Speaker and members
of this House numbering 225, as a great asset that bring together the
multiplicity of views in the country. It is nurtured by all ethnicities
and religions as well as those who hold liberal and progressive views.
Experience
All of them have gained wide experience in the recent past. Among
these representatives are about 40 young members. We have for the first
time an opportunity to find solutions to problems in our country within
a democratic framework, without any influence from terrorists.
Therefore, on behalf of the people of this country, I request Parliament
to grant this opportunity to them, through Parliament.
I would like to present to this august assembly, the proposal to do
away with the Emergency Regulations for administrative activities to
function democratically under ordinary law. This is because I am
satisfied that there is no longer a need for extending emergency
regulations for the administration of the country now.
Therefore, I propose not to extend emergency regulations”, he told
Parliament.
President Rajapaksa met heads of State banks last week at Temple
Trees to get their ideas and suggestions to prepare the Budget 2012.
The chairmen of state banks presented information on the economic
progress achieved by each bank by middle of this year to the President
and had discussed as to how the country’s State banks should adapt
themselves in line with structural changes in the country expected by
the Government by 2015. The UPFA Candidates including mayoral Candidate,
Milinda Moragoda pledged before the President to launch election
propaganda activities peacefully and cordially, in accordance with law
and order.
The President requested candidates to work together to secure victory
of the Colombo Municipal Council which has been an opposition party
stronghold for the last 50 years.
Meanwhile, several Judges who alleged that they lost their positions
unjustifiably during 1999 to 2009 also met President Rajapaksa. They
informed him that over 42 judges were compelled to retire on the
influence of former Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva and some of the
retired judges had even committed suicide. They also informed President
Rajapaksa that some others suffered mental and physical shock following
their ignominious retirement.
They requested the President to initiate an inquiry into the
situation of the judiciary between 1999 and 2009 under the then chief
justice and take action to redress their grievances. |
