National security pays dividends By Ranil Wijayapala If there was an agonizing journey for this tiny tear drop island in the Indian ocean, over the past few decades, caused due to flames of hatred coming through the terrorized minds engulfing the country, that agonizing journey saw a virtual end when it was rid of all roots of terrorism from its soil on May 19, 2009. That was the biggest achievement this tiny nation reached in the sphere of national security, in the post Independent Sri Lanka to regain its position in the globe and to raise this nation as an attractive place in the global map safe for both tourists and also for investors. Today, although there are organisations and individuals having their evil eyes focussed on the future of Sri Lanka for their own political and, personal ends the world community has already identified the richness of this tiny island selecting it as the best tourist attraction and for investment opportunities in the global map. It was through supreme sacrifices made by the heroic Security Forces and the citizenry and its leaders and through the blood and sweat shed by the valiant forces, Police personnel and the patriotic citizens of this country that this nation sailing through stormy waters could be salvaged by preventing it from going deep into the sea in the face of the challenges posed by terrorism. Upholding National Security was the foremost guiding factor behind this successful operation to make this country, once considered one of the most dangerous hot spots in the world the safest destination in the world President Mahinda Rajapaksa who climbed the ladder of politics as a young MP from Giruvapattuva, down south to become the leader of this country in November 2005 and again to be re elected for his second term with unprecedented victory in January 2010, he was the key factor behind the achievement of this nation. When all the leaders were navigating this nation aimlessly , only President Rajapaksa could, in his first term of Presidency strengthen and protect the nation which was sailing like a sinking ship from being ruined and then in his second term to get this ship out of the stormy waters towards safer waters to have a smooth sail for decades more. 'Upholding National Security' was the foremost guiding factor behind this successful operation to make this country, once considered one of the most dangerous hot spots in the world, the safest destination in the world. Naturally it was a costly operation as it was the key factor to paralyse all moves. Set aside the huge moneys spent for more than two and half decades as military costs of the Northern conflict, as estimated by the officials of the Sri Lanka Central Bank the Government has spent 5.5 billion US dollars between 2006 and 2009 in its military effort to crush LTTE terrorists spending around five per cent of its Gross Domestic Product as its defence budget. Seemingly it is a huge burden for a tiny economy like Sri Lanka as it had to count for each and every bullet, artillery round fired in the battle front and the men and women committed for the humanitarian operation during this almost three-year period. But as a leader who had greater concern about national security he could strike a balance between national security and other factors affecting the nation throughout this period convincing its citizens of the importance of going through difficult periods if the nation has to reach prosperity. When family members were scared to travel in public transport and even in their private vehicles together and attend public events together in fear of suicide bombing, claymore mines and other forms of atrocities, when the economy was greatly affected by acts of terrorism, the amount spend on the national defence budget could not be considered a burden for the nation. When around 300,000 men and women in the Army Navy, Air Force and the Police committing themselves to this humanitarian operation starting from Mavil Aru in the East to the final battle in the banks of Nanthikadal lagoon in Vellamullivaikkal, the citizens of this country equally bore the brunt of the war against terrorism by way of immense economic hardships. Through this highly productive humanitarian operation led by President Mahinda Rajapaksa from 2006 to 2009 with the commitment of the Security Forces, Police, and Civil Security Forces personnel adopting new military strategy to face the world’s most ruthless terror outfit has today become a very good investment to make Sri Lanka the miracle of Asia, the slogan and strategy for the second term of office of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Therefore through his initiatives to uphold national security in his first term of office he laid a strong foundation for his second aim of making Sri Lanka the ‘Wonder of Asia’. He could bring freedom to the population, land mass, the sea and all the resources available in this tiny island by ensuring that this country not only a free of terrorism but also all forms of threats along with the supporting hands extended to him to by Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the three Forces Commanders who had always been there with him to share the burden. Today, almost two and a half years after ending the war on terrorism he has guided his officials to ensure that all the people affected and displaced be resettled in their villages in the North and East, while nearly 12,000 LTTE cadres varying from suicide cadres to political cadres have been reintegrated into society and provided them with all available democratic rights in the world. It was due to these initiatives to ensure security in the North and East that the light of development is fast reaching the Northerners and Easterners in equal terms with the Southerners of the country without any discrimination. When the North and East is safe for the entire population, the southerners also could enjoy the full benefits of peace after decades as all the roads which were inaccessible and unsafe for them becoming safer routes to travel without any fear. That has become the real reconciliation process among the ethnic groups divided on trivial issues as they have now got an opportunity to interact with each other freely in any part of the country sans any barriers setting aside their highly influential attitudes towards other ethnic groups. Therefore, the policy of President Mahinda Rajapaksa of ensuring an environment conducive for each and every community to live together in this country without any fear by ensuring their safety has become a true factor to get all communities to think as one nation. Not only psychological barriers even geographical barriers which made different ethnic groups divided from each other have also been removed with the liberation of the entire region which was under Tiger grip for decades. The construction of bridges across the branches of the Mahaweli river to easily link the two districts of Batticaloa and Trincomalee in the Eastern province, the opening of the bridge in Pooneryn on the A-32 Mannar – Pooneryn - Sanguppidy road are the true symbols to show the removal of geographical barriers that kept them apart. With these moves each and every bullet spent in the name of national security, has yielded fruitful results as they have become a strong investment in the long run though many have seen that effort as a futile one in the past. The money spent on them have become investments as it has enabled to make use of each and every inch of land in this country and each and every citizen of this country a contributor towards the national economy as a large land mass and a huge population was kept unused for decades a resource to the nation. They no longer need to toil and waste their labour just to ruin the national economy but to build the national economy. Above all the Security Forces and the Police who had committed their entire lives to fight keeping their untiring eyes towards the unknown enemy with a heavy gun in their hands and have become great contributors towards their nation. As it was these men behind the weapons who made what was impossible in the battle front a possible one. They are now free to use both their brains and hands towards contributing to the national economy while committing themselves to be on vigil to face any eventuality. Under these circumstances the Army, Navy and the Air Force has become big contributors in each and every aspect of the society to overcome any challenging situation that may arise in society. Like they have turned the North and East and the entire country into a safe place for the people they are committing themselves to make the country a pleasant and beautiful one too. With these initiatives Sri Lanka which was considered a dangerous hot spot in the world where any person feared to trod is now becoming a safe destination in the world with many investors and travel magazines identifying Sri Lanka as one of the safest destinations for tourists. Therefore the initiatives taken by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to uphold the national security throughout his Presidency going through the flames of the war against terrorism is now reaping dividends, making Sri Lanka not only the safest place for its citizens but also the safest place for the entire global community.