Ranil tarnishes Lanka’s image

Sri Lanka’s relentless battle against terrorism is about to reach a successful finish. All loyal and peace-loving Sri Lankans have hailed the untiring efforts of the Security Forces and the fearless political leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his Government to eradicate terrorism.

The Security Forces engaged in their final push against the LTTE have virtually sealed off the Eastern coast as the 58 Division troops advancing towards Mullaitivu from the Northern direction reached closer to the Mullaitivu front after capturing the grounded Jordanian ship Farah III in the Mullaitivu seas.

Even the UN Security Council (UNSC) has eventually accepted Sri Lanka’s legitimate right to battle against terrorism and urged the LTTE to release civilians in the No Fire Zone (NFZ) immediately. The UNSC demanded that the Tigers lay down arms and release civilians, still trapped in the NFZ.

Reports said that the members of the UNSC have in no uncertain terms condemned the LTTE for its acts of terrorism over many years and its continued use of civilians as a human shield.

Amidst the nation-wide backing for the Government’s all-out efforts to demolish the last Tiger den and the UNSC’s acceptance of Sri Lanka’s legitimate right to combat terrorism, the Leader of the Opposition Ranil Wickremesinghe has embarked on a controversial tour of Europe. As exclusively disclosed by this newspaper last week, his European mission is now a public secret.

In a desperate attempt to exert more international pressure on the Government to go for a ceasefire with the LTTE terrorists, Wickremesinghe has cut a sorry figure by painting a gloomy picture of Sri Lanka to the international community. The sole intention of his European tour is to hold discussions with several Scandinavian officials on the situation in Sri Lanka and it is a strategy to save the LTTE leadership now trapped in Mullaitivu.

Could any loyal and patriotic citizen ever conceive such a mission to tarnish the image of our resplendent isle before the international community? Only political opportunists who are hell-bent on power and look for short cuts to capture power would descend to such low level and indulge in such unpatriotic acts.

As Enterprise Development Minister Mano Wijeyeratne has quite rightly pointed out, the Opposition and UNP Leader Wickremesinghe is attempting to betray the people and the Motherland before the international community to cover up his ineffectiveness.

To cover a multitude of sins, the UNP has said that the Opposition Leader’s European visit will uphold the people’s democratic rights denied by the Government.

Minister Wijeyeratne said that Wickremesinghe is capable of painting a gloomy picture of Sri Lanka before the International Community and would attempt to prove that democracy is threatened in Sri Lanka.

The UNP has produced illustrious leaders such as Sri Lanka’s first Prime Minister, the late D.S. Senanayake. But the present leadership could by no means be compared to those great party leaders of yesteryear. If Wickremesinghe genuinely believes in democracy, he should first practise it at Siri Kotha. After all, charity begins at home!

Wickremesinghe must first and foremost put his house in order and respect the democratic rights of his party membership. He should first establish democracy within the party and educate the members and the public about it. Having lost as many as 20 elections, including successive Presidential polls, Wickremesinghe is determined to make full use of anything and everything that comes his way. He is holding on to the party leadership like a leach with the help of the Executive Committee, he himself appointed after a series of election defeats. The UNP leader cares less about the negative impact of his multifarious acts.

The LTTE has intensified its false propaganda campaigns with the support of the Tamil Diaspora. The Tigers are on their last legs and are making a desperate attempt to project the civilians’ issue and the humanitarian aspect to win global sympathy. Judging by the international pressure that has been mounting and the numerous calls for a ceasefire, it is evident that the LTTE propaganda has worked to a ‘great extent’.

Unfortunately, the UNP leader’s role and the irresponsible conduct of the Opposition too are undoubtedly adding fuel to fire.

Addressing Parliament recently, Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage alleged that Wickremesinghe has turned out to be the spokesman for the LTTE.

Wickremesinghe seems to be playing a new role as the international spokesman for LTTE terrorists.

We are cognizant of the fact that Anton Balasingham campaigned for the LTTE internationally in the past. After his demise, the LTTE appointed Siva Pasupathi for the job. One wonders whether Wickremesinghe has now taken over this task.

As Minister Aluthgamage has disclosed, UNP Leader Wickremesinghe is responsible for the current international pressure that is mounting and the calls for a ceasefire. Over the past few years, the UNP leader has been globetrotting tarnishing Sri Lanka’s image. This has underestimated the military victories and discredited the valiant Security Forces which have been doing a commendable job. Moreover, the Opposition Leader’s acts have caused irreparable damage to the country.

Minister Aluthgamage said all loyal, patriotic and peace-loving citizens, irrespective of their political affiliations, should reject this type of opportunists in toto. We are fully aware that there are still genuine and patriotic leaders in the UNP. But they have been silenced due to the one-man show in the party. Hence, people have rejected the UNP at successive elections.

The masses would teach a good lesson to such politicians at the next general and Presidential elections. The Opposition Leader and his cronies will be thrown into the dustbin of history if they do not support the Government’s endeavour to create a unitary state free from terrorism at this crucial juncture.