‘Massive socio-economic, political change after 2009’

By Uditha KUMARASINGHE

When President Mahinda Rajapaksa assumed office in 2005, the opinion within the Sri Lankan society and the international arena was that a guerrilla movement such as the LTTE, which possessed a record of over 30 years of brutality, cannot be militarily defeated as the battle against LTTE terrorists had been continuously conducted over three decades without achieving any fruitful results.

However, the leadership provided by President Rajapaksa, as the Commander-in-Chief, could put an end to terrorism, turning a new leaf within the Sri Lankan socio-economic fabric, astonishing the entire world and showing them how to defeat terrorism under a home-grown Sri Lankan military strategy.

Youth Affairs and Skills Development Minister Dullas Alahapperuma, in an interview with the Sunday Observer analysed how the far-sighted political vision of the President and his decision to appoint Gotabaya Rajapaksa as the Defence Secretary paved the way for the Security Forces to eradicate three decades of terrorism from the Sri Lankan soil, citing an example to the world on how to defeat terrorism with a completely new Sri Lankan military strategy.

The Minister described how these two eminent personalities guided our Security Forces towards the goal of defeating terrorists.

Minister Alahapperuma stressed that former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Western countries and other prominent military experts in the world also maintained the stance that the LTTE cannot be militarily defeated, taking into the consideration the manner in which the LTTE terrorists had consolidated their position in the North and the East over the previous years.

Amidst this scenario, the LTTE had reached the brink of achieving their ‘Eelam dream’.

Then Prime Minister Wickremesinghe, through an MoU signed with the LTTE, also accepted the existence of LTTE-controlled areas in the North and the East.

This helped the LTTE open their own Eelam ‘Police’ stations, banks and courts and even issue their own ‘currency’.

Separate state

The world could witness that the environment needed for a separate state had been created by the LTTE with the help of local and international pro-LTTE elements. That is why LTTE Leader Velupillai Prabhakaran, in his Maha Viru speech in 2007, announced that the LTTE just needs one goal to realise its dream - international recognition for its Eelam state.

He said he will deliver the next Maha Viru speech under an Eelam State with their Eelam flag.

Under these circumstances, various local and international forces attempted to bring down the morale of our Security Forces and to give a completely different picture to the world.

This was the true situation that prevailed in the country when President Rajapaksa took over the leadership in 2005. The appointment of Gotabaya Rajapaksa as the Defence Secretary by the President also became a decisive factor.

They became the most outstanding personalities to come forward to take the challenge of defeating LTTE terrorism and restoring peace in the country which was the genuine desire of all peace-loving people.

Except for the entry of these two towering personalities, the Security Forces and all other military equipment were there.

However, the joint collaboration and the firm dedication by the President and the Defence Secretary led to boost the morale of our Security Forces and turned them into a most courageous force that could successfully defeat the terrorists. We still remember how the Mullaitivu Army camp had previously been overrun by the LTTE within a night, killing all 1,200 soldiers there.

The Minister said on the directive of the President, as the Commander-in-Chief, our Security Forces commenced their humanitarian mission against the LTTE from Mavil Aru in March 2006. At that time the LTTE had been identified as the most powerful and ruthless terrorist outfit in the world.

This humanitarian mission launched by our Security Forces, initially to capture Mavil Aru, culminated in the capture of Kilinochchi which was considered as the capital of ‘Eelam’, in January 2009.

This significant victory against terrorism has a special political and military value because our humanitarian operation introduced a new strategy to the world on how to defeat terrorism.

This was completely different from the war theories adopted by the West or the East. We could achieve these significant victories as our humanitarian operation was based on new strategies.

Even the war against terrorists was won amidst various absurd arguments and opinions expressed by the Opposition to obstruct the ongoing military operations.

New strategy

Finally, our Security Forces introduced a new strategy to the world and it became a new laboratory for war experts.

Our Security Forces also gave fresh hopes to the Security Forces of world super powers fighting the al-Qaeda and Taliban. As a result of this humiliating defeat faced by the LTTE, the Western state mechanism also faced a severe crisis.

Minister Alahapperuma pointed out how Sri Lanka has undergone a massive socio-economic and political change during this post-conflict scenario. Up to 2009, tourists had been warned against travelling to Sri Lanka due to bomb explosions. Today this situation has completely changed and Sri Lanka has been identified as a key tourist destination. Sri Lanka’s tourism industry has shown a dramatic improvement at present. Sri Lanka could achieve all these significant victories due to the dynamic leadership provided by President Rajapaksa without giving into any external pressure.

This is just the beginning of the new forward march of the country.

It is the responsibility of all to safeguard these significant victories, regardless of petty political differences.

May 19, the day on which LTTE terrorism was eradicated from the country, should not be turned into a day of promoting hatred. This is the day when everyone should be determined to create a new Sri Lanka, irrespective of political differences.

“We would not be able to safeguard these victories without promoting national harmony within the country. We should not use the word “Tamil diaspora” as it gives a wrong impression about the Tamil community. Those who assist the LTTE should be introduced as pro-LTTE Tamil diaspora, not as Tamil diaspora. Of the Tamil community, this pro-LTTE Tamil diaspora consists only a small number,” he said.