Battle to save Sri Lanka

From Ward Place to Beliatta...

The nation stood inspired by the call to end terrorism to look towards a better future. Terrorism gained momentum on this soil only after 1977. Late President J.R. Jayewardene arrived in office with a 'vision' to offer eight pounds of cereals free and build a 'Dharmishta' Society. The cereals never materialised and the dream of a Dharmishta Society cracked when UNP goons were let loose on Tamils in July 1983. That holocaust tarnished the image of the nation, and the reputation of the majority Sinhala community before eyes of the international community. In the end, a foreign army stepped on our soil, an act that undermined the integrity and capability of our gallant Armed Forces.

Jayewardene's successor, Ranasinghe Premadasa, known as a `Man on a mission', armed the treacherous LTTE to the teeth in an indirect manner for the LTTE to battle the Indian troops. Premadasa was known as an anti-Indian product who openly criticized the Indo- Lanka Accord between J.R. Jayewardene and Rajiv Gandhi. The LTTE took advantage of Premadasa's 'generosity', armed itself well to attack our Armed Forces after the exit of the IPKF. Even to date, the fate of 700 policemen who were ordered to surrender to the LTTE in the East is not known. Finally, Premadasa himself fell a victim to the brutal LTTE terrorism. The brief period of his successor, Dingiri Banda Wijetunga looked more `deaf or blind', true to the hilarious definition of Wijetunga's initials.

Turn of Chandrika

It was then the turn of Chandrika Kumaratunga who came with a 'peace cap' on with much 'hope' on her forehead. What happened? Peace initiatives failed... and the LTTE overran many military camps. Kumaratunga too fell a victim to LTTE cruelty and retired hurt with one eye made blind. Prior to her retirement, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe shared two years to administer the nation. He signed a controversial Ceasefire Agreement with the LTTE and that gave devilry teeth to the enemy. The LTTE became more powerful with the agreement demarcating boundaries in their favour, prohibiting lawful troops from entering such territory. The vulgar LTTE cadres even went before government military camps, raised their sarongs, removed trousers to expose their backs to the troops, wielding machine guns in hand. That was how our troops were humiliated by shortsighted policies of our leaders in the past. They created, nurtured and they turned the LTTE into a monster.

Pledged

Then came Percy Mahendra Rajapaksa from the deep south to assume the Presidency in 2005. Upon taking oath, President Mahinda Rajapaksa pledged to unite the fragmented nation and to bring all communities together. Upholding all democratic and civilized norms, the President offered the hand of peace to the LTTE several times. But, the LTTE started to play its usual game of `hide and seek'. Rajapaksa, a strong and tough character decided to end the nonsense once and for all to uphold his pledge to protect the people and the nation at the earliest. `Country before self', looked his patriotic commitment backed by dedication. It was a three decade old war and the task was not that easy in the long walk from Ward Place via Aluthkade, Udunuwara, Attanagalla to Beliatta.

President Rajapaksa's political character is contrast to his predecessors. His speeches do not contain rhetorics. But, they are firmly constructed and well argued. His words are meant to be taken serious. And those who listen must closely analyse the substance. Unlike his predecessors who spoke of visions, missions and unrealistic dreams, Rajapaksa is a man with reason and judgement. He displays passion for the possible. As the Head of State, Mahinda Rajapaksa views the present as a fountain of possibilities to build a meaningful future to his people and the nation. In his first year in office, he carefully studied the criminal conduct of the LTTE. When the LTTE deceived him at the peace table twice, the President decided to break from the dark past, to build a moral and strategic Sri Lanka. He knew it was not easy and it needed much pain and sacrifice.

As the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Rajapaksa placed his trust, confidence and faith in his Armed Forces to crush LTTE terrorism. The guidance of his brother, Defence Secretary, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, himself a battle hardened soldier in the war against the LTTE some years ago was an incentive to the strategy of the Commander-in-Chief. President Rajapaksa did not want to delay the transition for a better life for all. In his mind and knowledge, the President knew victory over the LTTE would be a jewel in the crown of Mother Lanka as the nation stood torn by LTTE violence and people caught between titanic battles. In the President, is a man who hated race and colour to determine humanity and sub-humanity.

To bring an end to the destruction of all sense of self-esteem, President Rajapaksa unshaken by the threat of the bullet and senseless bomb explosions directed his Armed Forces to begin a successful military journey from Mavil Aru to Mullaitivu. It was the beginning to end the perpetrated veritable crimes against humanity by the LTTE.

He knew that the LTTE hated democracy and prowled on the democratic community like killers who have no sense of the worth or value of human life. Strategically, the President at the commencement of his second year in office, assembled the people to educate them on the need to exercise the right to formulate the definition of what it meant to be a Sri Lankan. In a firm assertion, the President told the nation that Sri Lanka belonged to all communities who live in it. That gave the concrete expression of patriotism to the minds of the people that it is democracy that should shine and not terrorism. That was the objective that all people pursued in our society during the past two years to strengthen the mission of troops to crush the common enemy.

The will of the President has today created a situation where people are free from fear of terrorism, and no power could deny anybody of his or hers fundamental human rights with the fear of tyranny now gradually sinking. The people today accept the reality that resolutions to conflicts could only be found by peaceful means and not by the use of force. There is now space for the diversity of our people to define themselves as one people of one nation. It is up to all people to draw on the accumulated experiences of the past to use wisdom to design and define the future for them.

Youngest MP

Mahinda Rajapaksa was the youngest Member of Parliament in 1970. He began his political journey displaying a character of patience and understanding being loyal to all his party leaders.

He was never ambitious but always patriotic. It would be correct to say that the Presidency fell on his lap after thirty five years in active parliamentary politics. In him stands a politician who believes that all authority is the wealth of the people.

Velupillai Prabhakaran who read Rajapaksa's predecessors quite correctly failed to read the character of Rajapaksa in the correct perspective. Mahinda Rajapaksa believes in being tougher to the tough. That has been the way of life of Mahinda Rajapaksa from his childhood. Rajapaksa read Prabhakaran early and well. That study manifested the fate of Prabhakaran and his LTTE who are now driven to the thick jungles of Mullaitivu. The President with his experience knew as to what should be the criteria to defeat the terrorism of the LTTE. He embarked on a most difficult task to claim victory after victory.The country needs peace. For that, the blight of criminal terrorist violence that result in political assassinations, murder and suicide explosions must end. The President and his government had geared the nation to meet that challenge.

Country saved

After three decades of gruesome violence, the deadly sound of mortar shells and the fearsome rhythm of suicide explosions have been silenced to a greater extent.

The silence of peace that was near death looks resurrected. The country has been saved from being further dragged towards the abyss of a violent conflict. A war that seemingly raged without mercy is now confined to the jungles... with an end at sight.

A vigilant Sri Lankan optimism has emerged for all peace loving people to join hands to sink LTTE barbarism. The light looks bright at the end of the tunnel. It was certainly a long walk from Ward Place to Beliatta, to save Sri Lanka and protect human freedom.