North-East contribution, a distinct advantage to economy

By Dinesh WEERAWANSA

It was a dream come true. Hardly anybody believed that terrorism in Sri Lanka, which had devastated the country for nearly three decades claiming thousands of lives, would ever be defeated.

Adding more weight to that general belief were the various campaigns of the international community. Several countries in the West, including Norway, attempted to act as peace brokers, giving equal status to a legitimate army of a sovereign state and a terrorist outfit which was notorious for killing thousands of people through mass scale bomb explosions targeting the public.

Thanks to the so-called peace talks during which the LTTE terrorists got ample opportunities to regroup and strengthen its military capability, the Tigers were on a strong footing when President Mahinda Rajapaksa became the First Citizen on November 18, 2005. As a people’s President who loves peace, President Rajapaksa gave enough and more opportunities to the LTTE, making a sincere effort to bring the Tigers to the negotiating table.

But Velupillai Prabhakaran took President Rajapaksa’s kindness as a sign of weakness and attempted to take the Government for another ride, as they had done with all previous leaders of the country. Having walked away from the negotiating table, just months after President Rajapaksa assumed office, the LTTE reverted to its usual business of exploding deadly bombs in buses and at other public places.

Prabhakaran’s inhuman act of closing the Mavil Aru anicut thus depriving poor farmers in that area their basic need - water boomeranged, opening a new chapter in Sri Lanka’s history. It was at this point that President Rajapaksa decided enough is enough and ordered the Security Forces to embark on a great humanitarian mission.

There was no looking back since then as the Security Forces achieved victory after victory in a memorable forward march that rewrote the country’s history. Impressed by the resounding success of the Mavil Aru operation, the humanitarian operation gathered momentum as the Security Forces liberated the entire Eastern Province, rescuing nearly 300,000 people who had been subjected to untold privations under the LTTE’s terror rule.

That promoted the Security Forces to make even greater sacrifices in demolishing the Tiger fire-power in their long-held strongholds of Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi.

The world’s largest human rescue operation came to another triumphant end on May 18, 2009, rescuing over half a million civilians from the East and the North.

On Friday, we celebrated the third anniversary of that incomparable and unique achievement. Thanks to the indomitable political leadership of President Rajapaksa and the military strategies of Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka’s valiant Security Forces achieved a unique feat which no other Army in the world has achieved so far. That is precisely when the Victory Day, celebrated yesterday at the Galle Face Green was an important day for all of us.

That historic feat by Sri Lanka’s Security Forces is even more creditable and significant, especially since the LTTE was the most ruthless terrorist organisation in the world. It was the dedication, devotion and immense sacrifices of our gallant Security Forces which paved the way for the most cherished moment in modern Sri Lankan history. It was the unwavering bravery of Sri Lanka’s Security Forces and the correct military and political leadership that were effectively combined to demolish the LTTE’s dream of a separate state.

The story did not end there after the liberation of civilians and gaining territory. Following the liberation of the East and well before the LTTE was finally crushed, the Government embarked on massive development and resettlement programs in the Trincomalee and Batticaloa districts through the “Eastern Reawakening” programs.

Similarly, even greater infrastructure development programs were implemented in the North under the “Northern Spring” program while de-mining and resettlement programs progressed. In short, the Government not only liberated over half a million people in the North and the East but also ensured them a safer and secure future.

It was due to the prompt action of the Government in resettlement and development that the people in the North and the East have now got a new lease of life, making an active contribution to the national economy. At the same time, all citizens, irrespective of ethnic and religious affiliations, are now enjoying the dividends of peace.

Unfortunately, not many countries in the West could truly experience these positive developments for reasons best known to them.

Nevertheless, Sri Lanka is marching forward after restoring peace and stability. The mega development projects and the added contribution of the people in the North and the East, will give Sri Lanka a distinct advantage in its endeavour - the ‘Wonder of Asia’. If we work tirelessly by exploiting the peaceful atmosphere, we could reach that goal sooner than later.