Sri Lanka has fulfilled its obligations
UN Secretary General (UNSG) Ban Ki-moon, in his
opening address at the 66th session of the United Nations General
Assembly (UNGA) in New York on Wednesday, stressed "the need to serve
the planet, lifting people out of poverty and advancing economic
growth".
Emphasising the need to face these challenges, the UNSG said that
these three factors "are one and the same fight". He highlighted the
importance of a collective global effort to address these issues. Ki-moon
also spotlighted several other issues facing the world today -
particularly the spread of communicable diseases, empowering women, food
security and climate change. He exhorted world leaders to focus
attention on climate change, support nations transitioning to democracy
in the Arab world and push for advances in the stalled Mideast peace
process.
Significantly, the three main issues pointed out by the UN chief have
already been addressed by Sri Lanka, which is now heading towards new
economic horizons with terrorism being a thing of the past. Of the 100
world leaders who attended the 66th UNGA, President Mahinda Rajapaksa
had the singular honour of being the only Head of State who had proved
beyond a shadow of doubt that terrorism could be eradicated to make the
world a safer place to live in.
This feat was indeed a rare, milestone achievement for President
Rajapaksa and Sri Lanka which even the so-called big countries are still
striving hard to emulate. While most countries in the West and some in
South Asia are still making a desperate attempt to eradicate terrorism,
Sri Lanka stands out as a shining example, having crushed the world's
most ruthless terrorist outfit within three years. This significant and
landmark achievement was made possible due to the immense sacrifices by
the country's valiant Security Forces and the far-sighted political
sagacity of President Rajapaksa.
Hence, Sri Lanka could be proud of its outstanding achievement and is
worthy of emulation by UN member countries. Sri Lanka may be a small
country territory-wise, but it nonetheless has added a better value for
the UN's principles and become a world leader in eradicating global
terrorism.
If one were to analyse the three main factors stressed by UNSG Ki-moon,
Sri Lanka has taken tangible steps to protect the environment and the
planet in which we all live in. While embarking on massive development
projects countrywide, environment protection has been given topmost
priority.
The Government has paid special emphasis on poverty alleviation by
generating more employment opportunities and life skills programs.
Nearly half a million people who had been rescued from the jaws of LTTE
terror in the North and the East have been provided ample opportunities
to revert to their normal livelihoods - be it fishing, cultivation or
animal farming.
What is all the more significant is that people living even in remote
areas have enhanced chena cultivation and poultry farming.
The resettled civilians in the North and the East, especially, have
begun to make an active contribution to the national economy, thereby
increasing their purchasing power. These developments would pave the way
to help people overcome poverty.
To cap it all, President Rajapaksa did not abandon major development
work even during the 2006-2009 period when the country had to spend a
colossal sum of money on its battle against terrorism. Though the
budgetary allocations on national security were relatively high, the
Government still found the wherewithal needed for some of the mega
development projects such as the Southern Highway, Katunayake
Expressway, Colombo-Kandy Highway, Mattala International Airport,
Magampura International Harbour, Moragahakanda Reservoir, Uma Oya
project, Kumbukkan Oya project, Upper Kotmale Hydropower project,
Kerawalapitiya power project, Norochcholai Coal Power plant, Pallekele
International Stadium, Sooriyawewa International Stadium and the
construction of nearly 10 flyovers to ease traffic congestion in the
capital and its suburbs.
Would any other country battling a deadly war against terror have
even dreamt of embarking on such development projects of this magnitude
simultaneously? President Rajapaksa had a clear-cut vision to develop
the country and, moreover, a commitment to save the nation from the
clutches of terrorism which had brought the country to a state of ruin
for three decades. LTTE terror put a spoke in the country's forward
march.
Nevertheless, the eradication of terrorism has enabled Sri Lanka to
march towards new economic horizons triumphantly. At a time when the
world's top most economies failed and recession in the West had a
negative impact on most countries, Sri Lanka steadfastly beat all
overwhelming odds to maintain steady economic growth.
Sri Lanka has maintained an overall economic growth rate of nearly
eight percent and it could look even brighter in the years to come. With
the dividends of peace contributing in no small measure to boost the
national economy, the country could look forward to better economic
growth. Although many political opponents and the Opposition criticised
the Government's economic policies, it were the sound principles
envisioned in the Mahinda Chinthana which helped Sri Lanka to record
such encouraging economic growth, notwithstanding the concocted reports
emanating from many countries.
This alone speaks volumes and is indeed a positive sign when most
countries are struggling to maintain a steady economic growth. Sri
Lanka's economic growth would soon be on par with China and India, which
are now enjoying the most booming economies in the world. Hence, Sri
Lanka could be proud of the fact that it has already achieved sound
economic growth as pointed out by the UNSC. In essence, Sri Lanka has
already fulfilled most aspects that Ki-moon has been stressing before
the international community - the august international assembly.
Hence, the world should not look upon Sri Lanka as a small Third
World country in the Indian Ocean that is grappling for economic
survival. Sri Lanka has come a long way, especially during the past five
to six years.
One could with justifiable pride say that Sri Lanka is enjoying its
best ever socio-economic era in its near 26-century history. One should
not view this achievement from a political perspective and debunk it
because these landmark achievements came about during President
Rajapaksa's UPFA Government's tenure in office. The benefits of the
Mahinda Chinthana would reach each and every citizen of this country,
irrespective of his or her political or religious affiliations. All Sri
Lankans could rejoice over the country's steady economic growth and
forward march as a truly independent nation.
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