Nation expects true leaders

A year has gone by after the successful liberation of the Eastern Province. Though many international organisations and even a section of the international community expressed reservations over a proper resettlement program for displaced persons in the East, the Government has accomplished the task successfully.

Even the INGOs and the international community are bewildered over the speedy and successful resettlement programs of the Government which have given an impetus to the innocent civilians who were liberated from the jaws of the LTTE’s clutches.

A new era has dawned in the East with mega development programs under the Eastern Reawakening program, implemented under the close supervision of Senior Presidential Advisor and Parliamentarian Basil Rajapaksa.

Infrastructure development in the East has been almost completed with better road networks, new bridges, irrigation and housing projects, worth billions of rupees.

People in the East have now begun to reap the benefits of the massive investments and contribute to the national economy. Dairy farming, agriculture and the fishing industry are thriving as money has started to flow into the province.

This has enhanced the purchasing power of the people in the East, who were at one time subjected to the constant harassment of the LTTE and deprived of their basic needs.

The Government has restored the democratic right of the Easterners after 14 years with the successful conduct of the local government and Provincial Council elections. A breakaway group of the LTTE which has rejected the bullet outright and realised the power of the ballot is governing the province. Aren’t these significant achievements in a province which had been dominated by terrorists for over two decades?

With Sri Lanka’s valiant Security Forces on the verge of liberating the North from the clutches of LTTE terrorism, a similar strategy should be planned to make those military victories more meaningful.

The cleaning up operations of the North and the East are indeed entirely a humanitarian mission which has been successfully accomplished by the brave sons of our soil. From Mavil Aru to Sampur and Vakarai to Thoppigala, our Security Forces eradicated Velupillai Prabhakaran’s terrorism in the East and liberated thousands of innocent civilians.

If we are to add more value to those resounding victories and make them more meaningful, we have to act as a responsible nation. This is the Government’s biggest challenge and if we are to face that challenge confidently, all should unite to vanquish the common enemy.

The Government has to address two major issues, if we are to use the recent victories in the North in a productive manner. One is to strengthen the grip in the newly liberated areas in the North. Once terrorism is completely wiped out from the North, we have to give top priority to develop the province, addressing the basic needs of the civilians who are now being rescued from LTTE’s terror.

Secondly, the Government will have to take appropriate action to restore democracy and rehabilitate terrorists who surrender to the Security Forces who are marching successfully towards Prabhakaran’s Wanni stronghold.

If our Security Forces could further weaken the power of the LTTE terrorists in the North, then we would be able to negotiate for a solution that would be acceptable to the majority of the people.

The Government has already attracted several investors to the East and a similar effort should be made for the North, once that too is fully liberated. The assistance of the international community, especially our donor countries, could play a vital role in developing infrastructure facilities in the North and the East.

If the international community is sincerely interested in the well-being of civilians there, Internally Displaced Persons and the minority Tamil and Muslim communities, the time is now opportune for them to strengthen their current humanitarian assistance program.

Weakening the Tiger power in the North, which the Security Forces are now accomplishing, is an important factor in finding a negotiated settlement.

The LTTE is acutely aware that their ruthless rule through terror acts in the Wanni is drawing to an end. This is precisely why they declared a unilateral ceasefire during the SAARC Summit, which they had openly violated.

Weakening the Tigers militarily alone is not a solution for the genuine problems of the Tamil community in the Northern and Eastern Provinces.

Whatever their problems, we have to find a reasonable solution within the framework of an undivided Sri Lanka.

This is where the All Party Representative Committee (APRC) could play a key role. While humanitarian and development work goes on smoothly in the East and the weakening of the Tiger power continues in the North, the APRC must make every endeavour to find solutions to the genuine problems of the Tamils, as well as the Muslims and the Sinhalese living in the North and the East.

With the TMVP, which governs the Eastern Provincial Council, joining the APRC, there could be a constructive dialogue to find the genuine issues of the people living in the two provinces. It is the duty of the main Opposition - the UNP, to return to the APRC and fulfil the people’s expectations.

The UNP should not look for short cuts to capture power. They should think positively even at this decisive stage. It’s not a matter of merely regaining or holding on to power but protecting our thrice-blessed nation from Prabhakaran’s ruthless terrorism.

The nation expects true leaders who would protect the country and its sovereignty. We do not need so-called leaders who turn a blind eye when the nation is in danger and look for ways and means to capture power. We fervently hope the Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and the UNP will act as a responsible Opposition and safeguard the interests of Mother Lanka.