People ready to sacrifice for country's sake

The so-called LTTE's 'Eastern kingdom' has now been exposed. There was a general belief that superior Tiger power at Thoppigala could never be surpassed.

That was mainly due to the image-building campaigns projected by the LTTE terrorists.

Terrorist leader Velupillai Prabhakaran's dream of a separate state has now been shattered after the liberation of the Eastern Province by our brave security forces.

The brave sons of our soil from the Sri Lanka Army, Navy, Air Force and the Police STF have battled ferociously in the thick eastern jungles to liberate innocent civilians from Prabhakaran's barbarian clutches. Military sources said that more than 140,000 people have been living in the area, forcibly held by the so-called 'Liberation Tigers'.

The victorious Lankan forces are about to secure the last few square kilometres in the Tiger-held area, thereby liberating the entire Eastern Province from the jaws of the blood-thirsty Tigers.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa is the only fearless and sincere leader in Sri Lanka's lone struggle against terrorism. He has always put the country before self and has never linked political goals with military targets. In simple words, he has given a dynamic leadership as a true statesman, while allowing our security forces to take their own appropriate decisions in the battlefront.

People's security should be the top priority of any government. No statesman could turn a blind eye when a nation's sovereignty is threatened by terrorism. This stand has been consistently stressed by President Rajapaksa.

Interestingly, this was exactly what the new British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said after last week's detection of powerful bombs in London. We fully endorse the bold statement of the British Premier that the people's security should be the top priority of a government.

In a message to the British Prime Minister, President Rajapaksa has said that he would share Brown's determination and commitment not to yield to this sustained threat from those who believe in the use of terror to achieve their ends by inflicting maximum damage on civilians, their day-to-day lives, and causing great destruction to life and property.

Irrespective of petty party politics, all patriotic Sri Lankans - Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims or Burghers, have willingly extended their fullest support to President Rajapaksa in his gallant battle against terrorism.

Unfortunately, there are a few political opportunists who are still reluctant to give up their lust for power. Their only desire is to capture power by hook or by crook. Some go globe-trotting, issuing statements one after the other, selling Sri Lanka's good name and reputation at 'international fora'.

The United National Party and its few remaining MPs under their leader's wing have tried their best to explore every possible means to topple the Government and challenge President Rajapaksa. But all their 'operations' have boomeranged and most people have realised that the sovereignty of the nation and the security of its people could not be compromised under any circumstances.

Those disgruntled political opportunists would never be able to fool far thinking patriotic citizens who love their motherland dearly. It has now been proved beyond doubt that the Government has made a sincere effort to find out those who were behind the recent spate of abductions. The UNP also has failed in its attempt to make use of media freedom to accuse the government. These political opportunists could no longer fool people here. These elements have been unable to make use of the rising cost of living as a tool to topple the Government. President Rajapaksa is well aware of the hardships faced by the people and is making every endeavour to cushion its impact. The nation should make even a little sacrifice to support our gallant forces that are fighting on our behalf.

Apart from the popular slogan of the rising cost of living, the UNP has failed miserably in using topics such as adductions and media freedom in their attempt to regain power. Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, who is rated as the weakest UNP leader to lose 14 successive elections, has always looked for shortcuts to form a Government.

This is quite understandable after he lost two successive Presidential elections and nearly two dozens MPs.

Today people are intelligent. They are not willing to allow Wickremesinghe to destroy the great achievements of our security forces in Mavil Aru, Sampur, Vakarai and now Thoppigala. All democratic and patriotic forces including the JVP should strengthen the hands of the President in his fearless struggle against terrorism.

Even the masses are determined to eliminate the common enemy. They too face hardships in their day to day lives due to the rising cost of living. But most people are prepared to make sacrifices for the sake of the country. We need to keep our heads high as an independent nation and protect our rich heritage of nearly 2600 years.