'Undermining victory of security forces not ethical'

by Ananda Kannangara

The Sunday Observer last week sought the views of people about the ongoing conflict and the service rendered by security forces for a peaceful atmosphere.

Here are their views.

Pharmaceutical Company, Managing Director Adrian Pereira commended the victory achieved by the forces in the battlefront and said that it was not ethical for anybody to undermine their victory.

"If the hostilities can be brought to a complete halt at this juncture, the colossal sum of money spent could be diverted for other purposes," and help to bring down the cost-of-living.

Film artiste Lal Weerasinghe said that no one can sabotage the ongoing military operations in the North and East or weaken the strength of the security forces by undermining their activities.

"We are at the tail end to achieve the lasting solution to the conflict; therefore it is our duty to strengthen the hands of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the morale of the security forces," he said.

A bridal dressmaker, Premasiri Hewawasam said the country needs peace and the President and security forces are doing their best to fulfil this aspiration.

"I think people must refrain from making various allegations against the security forces who fight day and night to safeguard the territorial integrity of our motherland," he said.

Premila de Silva of Colombo said "in this hour of need, all must shed petty political or other differences and get together to boost the morale of the security forces who are doing a wonderful job in the battlefront.

"As peace-loving citizens we should not sabotage the military operations, it is our duty to encourage the security forces and not undermine them," she said.

An executive in the private sector, Mohamed Izath commended the invaluable service rendered by our security forces to safeguard human life in the Northern and Eastern districts and said that it is the bounden duty of everybody to boost their morale.

"However a political solution is needed to bring about a solution to the conflict and I am confident that the Government will be able to fulfil this obligation before long," he said.

A television presenter Neelaka Rupathunga was happy over the service rendered by the security forces in the battlefront and said that everybody is indebted to them.

Taking their service into consideration, we must encourage them and not condemn their activities.

A thirty six-year-old school principal, Nishantha Samarasinghe commended the security forces for the sacrifices they always make in the battle front. "We will never forget the sacrifice made by our forces to liberate Mavil Aru, Sampur and Vakarai," he said. He said it is the duty of all peace-loving people to encourage the security forces at this crucial juncture.

A university lecturer in the Ratnapura District, Uapatissa Adikari who was also in the Jaffna University on an assignment recently said "I was very fortunate to witness the services rendered by our forces in the Northern district, therefore I earnestly call upon everybody not to make any statements to bring down the morale of security personnel" An executive of a tea exporting company, Muthumini Ilyas thanked President Rajapaksa and Minister Keheliya Rambulwella for encouraging the security forces fighting in the battle-field.

"We need leaders like them who have given full authority to the forces in the battlefront to go ahead with their own decisions," he said.

A medical student of the Colombo Medical College, Samanthi Kasturisinghe was not happy with the ongoing military activities in the North and East.

"Both sides must stop their activities and try to settle this matter in an amicable manner with the blessings of the international community," she said. A 30-year-old shoe manufacturer Mahinda Amarasekara of Kottawa said that the killings on both sides must be stopped immediately.

"I feel it is unnecessary for the international community to visit Sri Lanka very often and talk to both the Government and the LTTE leadership, if they cannot settle this matter completely.

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