Those accusing SL have hidden agendas - Defence Secretary

Baseless allegations are levelled against Sri Lanka continuously by certain western countries and pro-LTTE foreign media institutions have a hidden agenda, Secretary Defence Gotabaya Rajapaksa said.

He said that the government has already responded to those baseless allegations by rescuing nearly 300,000 civilians from LTTE clutches, successfully resettling over 95 percent of them in their native places, rehabilitating nearly 11,000 ex LTTE combatants and reintegrating them into the society and establishing clear future for ex-LTTE child soldiers by sending them back to schools.

The Defence Secretary made these observations as the chief guest at the symposium ‘Battles won and wars that must still be fought’ organised by the Strategic Initiative for the Protection of Sri Lanka (SIPOS) together with Federation of National Organizations at the BMICH.

Rajapaksa further said that foreign forces are levelling these allegations to bring some other groups into power as they are fully aware that the President or the present government will not fulfil their needs.

Former acting Chief Justice and Supreme Court Judge Rajah Wanasundara who chaired the event ceremonially launched the website following the welcome address by the convenor of the Federation of National Organisations, Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekara.

Professor Asoka Bandarage of George Town University of America delivered the special guest lecture on “Globalisation and Conflict Resolution”. Senior Attorney-at-Law Gomin Dayasri and senior journalist Malinda Senevirathna also spoke.

At the event three maiden publications were also released.

The publications cover key aspects of Sri Lanka’s struggle to eliminate terrorism from the soil of this country and were under the themes ‘The LTTE: The most disciplined fighting force the world has ever known’, ‘Unpardonable crimes against humanity’, and ‘ Out of the Cage: the greatest hostage rescue operation ever’.