‘Strong leadership led us to victory’
SL makes full use of peace, stability:
Achieves national transformation :
by Gotabaya Rajapaksa
Secretary to the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development,
Gotabaya Rajapaksa addresses members of the Young Presidents’
Organisation
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“Sri Lanka is currently making full use of its newfound peace and
stability to achieve a national transformation.
This is a prospect that seemed impossible just a few years ago. Until
May 2009, Sri Lanka was embroiled in a three decades long terrorist
conflict against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, better known as
the LTTE. Banned in several countries including the United States of
America, the LTTE was one of the most ruthless and most sophisticated
terrorist organisations in the world.
At the height of its power, it had more than 20,000 battle hardened
cadre in its ranks, including child soldiers and suicide cadre, a vast
armoury of advanced weaponry, and a sophisticated naval wing and a
fledgling air wing. It dominated large areas of land in the North and
the East as well as a considerable part of the country’s coastline. Its
ruthless terrorist attacks throughout Sri Lanka caused immense suffering
to our entire population.
When President Mahinda Rajapaksa was elected to the Presidency in
2005, he had a mandate from the people to end the terrorist conflict
once and for all. This was a daunting task. Four previous presidents as
well as several successive governments comprising various political
parties had tried to solve the issue of LTTE terrorism without success.
Over the years, a range of different approaches including military
campaigns, peace talks, and even international mediation had been tried.
None had succeeded.
The LTTE had no interest in peace. Instead, it exploited the respite
given through peace talks and ceasefires to kill its opponents and
strengthen its offensive capabilities. Although it claimed to be
fighting for the rights of the Tamil community by trying to establish a
separate state, its sole interest was in increasing its stronghold over
the territories it dominated in order to establish its own freedom.
While it is true that there were certain historic issues and problems
around which sections of the Tamil community had mobilised, there was no
actual conflict between ethnicities in Sri Lanka. The truth is that
ethnicity, language, religion, caste and gender have no bearing on
people’s opportunities in this country.
This is amply borne out by the statistics. If we look at the
universities, it is evident that students from all communities pursue
studies in a variety of fields. In all professions, whether it is
medicine, engineering, law, academia or in the corporate sector, all the
minority communities are very well represented. There is no
discrimination with regard to the services provided by the State, nor
are there any serious tensions among the communities living in the
country. The majority of the Tamil population lives outside the North
and the East, and have done so for many years.
Minority communities
The fact Sri Lanka’s many communities can and do live side by side in
perfect amity is easily demonstrable through the example of Colombo. The
majority of people living in this city are from the Tamil and Muslim
communities. They live side by side with the Sinhalese, who comprise the
largest community in Sri Lanka.
Many parts of Colombo that used to be predominantly Sinhalese in
times past are now no longer so. When you travel across the city, you
will come across a large number of kovils, mosques and churches that
stand alongside Buddhist temples. Devotees of all religions and
ethnicities participate in large numbers in religious and cultural
functions at these various institutions without any problem. There is no
communal tension in Colombo; instead, it is a shining example of a
thriving multicultural hub where people of all communities live side by
side in harmony.
This is equally true of the other large cities in the country. As
increasing economic activity leads people to pursue opportunities in
different parts of the country, this will soon become the reality even
in the more rural and less developed parts of Sri Lanka.
What, then, was the LTTE fighting for? It certainly was not for the
betterment of the Tamil people. The LTTE assassinated numerous
democratic politicians, State officials, community leaders, and
activists within the Tamil community.
It did not allow any democratic freedoms in the areas it dominated.
Instead, it sought to dominate through force of arms. It forcibly
recruited children as soldiers; it extorted money, expropriated land and
property, and ruthlessly killed and suppressed those who dared speak
out.
Despite putting on the trappings of a police force and judiciary in
the areas it dominated, the LTTE was a despotic force. The people living
under them in the North and the East needed to be liberated. The entire
country needed to be freed from the horrors of its brutal terrorism.
Soon after he was elected, President Rajapaksa was keen to resolve the
conflict. His first priority was to do so through peaceful means.
He therefore repeatedly requested the LTTE to come for direct talks
with the Government. Instead of responding genuinely, the LTTE increased
its provocations. It targeted State officials and military personnel,
and carried out acts of mindless violence against innocent civilians.
The Government bore these provocations with restraint until the LTTE
threatened a serious humanitarian disaster by shutting down a key
irrigation canal in the East, denying water to thousands of families and
many thousands of acres of farmland during a critical period.
Military operations
When all peaceful efforts to resolve the problem failed, the
Government had no option, but to launch a limited military operation to
reopen the sluice gates. The LTTE’s launching of attacks on key military
positions soon after forced the Government to expand the military
operation to a Humanitarian Operation to free the country from the
LTTE’s terrorism. In three and a half years, that objective was
achieved.
In the immediate aftermath of the Humanitarian Operation, the
Government of Sri Lanka faced a number of major challenges.
The most pressing of these were:
*The accommodation and care of nearly 300,000 displaced persons;
*Undertaking demining and the reconstruction of infrastructure and
facilities in the places they had been displaced from;
*Resettling them at these locations once they had been cleared;
*Rehabilitating thousands of ex-LTTE cadre and reintegrating them to
society.
During the Humanitarian Operation, as the Sri Lankan Armed Forces
progressed further and further into LTTE-held territory, the LTTE moved
the people out of their towns and villages as it retreated to its
strongholds. The civilian population was to be used as the LTTE’s human
shield.
Further, to prevent the advance of the military, the LTTE created
obstacles by laying thousands of anti-personnel mines, anti-tank mines
and improvised explosive devices in the towns and villages left behind.
As a result, after the war against terrorism ended, 295,873 displaced
people were unable to return to their homes until their homes were
demined and made safe for human occupation once again.
Accommodating and ensuring the welfare of such a large number of
people during the demining process was a very significant challenge.
However, it was a challenge that the Government had prepared for since
late 2008. After a national consultation conference with key officials
in Government, the UN and other relevant agencies, work on creating
welfare villages to house the displaced began. The facilities provided
in the welfare villages were to a very good standard. Each welfare
village was divided into blocks of shelters, and each block had separate
kitchens, toilets, bathing areas and child-friendly spaces.
Provision of water exceeded World Health Organisation standards, and
steps were taken to provide quality food and nutrition. Particular care
was taken to ensure proper healthcare and as a result, the health of the
displaced people improved dramatically within a short span of months.
Educational facilities were set up for children, while vocational
training facilities were set up for capacity building and empowerment of
adults. Much effort went into promoting religious, spiritual and
cultural activities, and kovils, churches and mosques were set up
through community consultation. Although there was some ill-informed
speculation by various parties during the initial stages, the welfare
villages were a tremendous success story by any standard.
Demining
While the displaced people were being accommodated in this fashion,
demining and reconstruction in the towns and villages they had left
behind was accelerated. In total, it was suspected that mines had been
laid in over 5,000 square kilometres of land. A number of international
agencies, including groups from India, Denmark and the United Kingdom,
assisted the Government in the demining process. However, the largest
single extent of land for demining was entrusted to the Sri Lanka Army.
These regions totalled almost 1,500 square kilometres, including several
of the most densely mined areas.
Demining was carried out in several stages. The first priority was
demining the towns and villages; the second priority was demining the
agricultural areas; and the third priority was demining the forested
regions. I am very happy to note that the first two priority areas have
been completely cleared of mines. The extent of the problem caused by
the LTTE can be seen from the fact that more than 900,000 anti-personnel
mines, anti-tank mines and unexploded ordnance devices have been so far
recovered.
With the completion of demining in each area, attention was paid to
the reconstruction of infrastructure and facilities that had been long
neglected under LTTE occupation. Because of the LTTE’s dominance in
those areas for many years, the facilities and infrastructure had been
in a very poor state.
Although the Government continuously supplied services such as
healthcare, education and utilities to these regions over the years, the
LTTE did not allow these resources to be used properly. The NGOs that
were supposed to be doing work in those areas were evidently
ineffective. As a result, there was no economic development there. The
transport networks, power supply, irrigation channels, administrative
facilities and housing were all badly in need of repair.
The renovation of houses and construction of new housing units was
one of the first priorities in terms of reconstruction in those areas.
The Government has launched an initiative to construct over 78,000
houses in the North and the East, including houses constructed with
donor assistance.
The Sri Lankan Army alone has renovated more than 7,500 houses and
constructed nearly 4,600 new permanent and 6,000 semi-permanent houses
for civilians being resettled. The Indian Government has provided a
grant to construct 43,000 houses in the affected areas over the next few
years; 1,000 of these have already been built and handed over to
beneficiaries.
The next key concern was infrastructure development. Under the
‘Northern Spring’ program launched by the Government in 2009, essential
infrastructure such as access roads, minor tanks, public buildings,
hospitals and schools were upgraded quickly to facilitate speedy
resettlement. Larger projects such as township development, renovation
of the road network including the A-9 route, and the restoration of the
railway tracks were then undertaken. The provision of electricity, water
supply and sanitation, upgrading of healthcare facilities and schools
were also undertaken. By the end of September 2012, just three years and
four months after the defeat of the LTTE, all the displaced persons
living in the welfare camps have been successfully resettled. A further
28,398 have chosen to live with host families in various parts of the
country, and some of them have opted to be resettled in the near future.
The successful completion of the resettlement program and the closure
of the welfare villages in such a short period is a significant and
laudable achievement by any standard. In addition to resettling the
people so quickly, the Government has done a lot of work to assist them
in reviving their livelihoods. Financial support and assistance in kind
has been given for those involved in crop agriculture, fisheries, and
business activities, including donations of equipment and seeds for
farmers, assisting in livestock development, and helping small business
owners set up shops.
Return of normalcy
Through all of the measures just described, the Government has
facilitated the return of normalcy to the people of the North, and has
provided the platform on which the people can build better futures for
themselves. It is not only the civilian population that has benefited
from the speedy actions taken by the Government with the assistance of
the military, but also the nearly 12,000 ex-LTTE cadre who surrendered
to the Security Forces at the end of the Humanitarian Operation.
The President had a very clear understanding that these ex-combatants
had been misled by the LTTE and deserved the opportunity to see the
error of their ways. From the first day onwards, the Government’s
intention was to rehabilitate the vast majority of these ex-LTTE cadre
and reintegrate them to society as quickly as possible.
A special UNICEF-supported rehabilitation program was organised for
the 594 child soldiers who surrendered. They were given proper
counselling, formal education, and given numerous opportunities to
participate in spiritual development activities and positive values
cultivation. All of the child soldiers were rehabilitated and reunited
with their families within one year.
The adult beneficiaries of rehabilitation underwent extensive
programs to de-radicalise them and equip them with the ability to return
to normal life in society. It is important to note that organisations
such as the IOM and UNICEF, visiting diplomats, media personnel, lawyers
and family members of beneficiaries were given access to the
rehabilitation centres.
The rehabilitation programs were organised by various government
ministries and departments together with UN agencies and many local and
international non-governmental organisations. The operation of the
centres themselves was greatly assisted by the military, under the
direct supervision of the Bureau of the Commissioner General of
Rehabilitation.
During the first year itself, 121 beneficiaries of the rehabilitation
program were reintegrated to society. 5,227 were reintegrated in 2010;
5,027 were reintegrated in 2011; and 637 have been reintegrated so far
this year. Many of the LTTE cadre who were detained during the war
against terrorism have also been rehabilitated and reintegrated, while
only a few hundred have been identified for prosecution.
Only 782 beneficiaries still remain in rehabilitation, because they
require more time to recover from LTTE indoctrination and regain the
full capability to lead normal lives. It is interesting to note that
research conducted by two American academics, Dr. Kruglanski and Dr.
Gelfland of the University of Maryland, College Park, has indicated that
there is a significant decline in the support of violence among all
beneficiaries of the rehabilitation program, including even the most
hard-core cadre. This amply supports the Government’s decision to
rehabilitating and reintegrating the ex-LTTE cadre so quickly.
Rehabilitation, reintegration
Every opportunity has been given to the rehabilitated and
reintegrated ex-LTTE cadre to resume normal lives in society. Many
programs have been launched, including those to support them to set up
their own businesses, obtain funds for self-employment, and undertake
farming and fisheries-related activities. Because the rehabilitation
programs featured a strong vocational training component, many of the
beneficiaries have been employed by various private enterprises
including garment factories and other industrial facilities. Some have
even been able to find jobs in other countries.
A significant number of the reintegrated beneficiaries are also being
recruited to the Civil Defence Force, and will be paid a monthly salary
and will work in farming and in development activities. As a result of
these measures, even former members of the LTTE have been given a full
and fair opportunity to build a better future for themselves in a
peaceful and stable Sri Lanka. The peace and stability that the entire
country now enjoys have already yielded tremendous dividends. Tourist
arrivals are on the rise, and the country has been chosen to host
several significant international events. These include the 58th annual
Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Conference, the 2012 Twenty20
Cricket World Cup, and the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in
2013.
In addition, there are a large number of regionally and
internationally significant groups that are interested in making large
investments in Sri Lanka. The Shangri-La hotel chain, Sheraton Hotels,
the Krrish Group, Indocean Developers and various others have already
committed to large investments to build high-end hotels, residential
spaces, office buildings and commercial facilities in and around
Colombo.
All these facts reflect the confidence that the international
community has in the stability and peace that Sri Lanka presently
enjoys, as well as their optimism about the country’s future prospects.
Sri Lankan companies and investors are equally committed to promoting
new ventures in diverse fields and creating further growth. There are
several existing advantages in Sri Lanka apart from its present platform
of peace and stability that they can exploit. The potential to harness
the country’s highly educated workforce in fields such as Information
Technology is a case in point. There are a number of Sri Lankan
companies that have already made a mark internationally by developing
highly acclaimed software products. The software engineers and IT
professionals who developed these products were educated and trained in
this country, and with that background, this is a sector that can go
very far.
The same can be said for fields such as medicine, accountancy,
engineering, and various other sectors in which Sri Lanka produces large
numbers of committed and talented professionals every year.
In order to realise the tremendous growth potential that the country
has, the Government of Sri Lanka has undertaken a range of development
initiatives. The ongoing urban development programs are a case in point.
These are focused primarily on uplifting the quality of the country’s
urban spaces through the development of clean, green, people-friendly
cities. The commercial capital of Colombo is being transformed through
several initiatives.
Colombo transformation
Programs are under way to:
*Uplift the quality and scenic nature of its waterways;
*Transform historic old buildings on the verge of collapse to modern
urban spaces;
*Provide better housing facilities for people living in underserved
settlements;
*Develop more public open spaces including public parks, walkways and
other recreational facilities;
*Ensure cleanliness of the city streets through proper garbage
collection and disposal.
The development of high quality urban spaces will provide knowledge
workers, highly qualified professionals and highly skilled personnel
with a higher standard of living. This is absolutely essential, given
the Government’s focus on encouraging investments from all over the
world.
Better cities and a higher quality of life will also encourage the
many thousands of professionals who left the country during the war
against terrorism to return to Sri Lanka. These are vital developments
that have taken place over the last few years.
I can tell you with confidence that the urban regeneration program
under way in Colombo, and the urban development projects under way in
the other cities around the country, will result in the country’s urban
spaces becoming wonderful cities in which to live.
In addition, several major infrastructure programs are also presently
under way, including the building of highways between key cities, the
upgrading of the railway network, and the expansion of electrification
and water supply. Ports around the country are being upgraded and
expanded, and the newly built Hambantota Port has given the country the
opportunity to attract vessels plying the international shipping lines
that pass just a few nautical miles to the south of Sri Lanka.
The setting up of the new airport at Mattala will also enhance the
Hambantota region’s prospects as a transshipment and logistics hub. It
also provides another access point for tourists who wish to visit the
south of the country.
The tourism sector is one with enormous potential, as reflected in
Lonely Planet’s recent selection of Sri Lanka as the world’s number one
travel destination for 2013. The many tourist hotels and other
tourism-related projects that are coming up around the country are an
indication that local and foreign investors are eager to exploit this
opportunity.
In this context, it is also important to note that the Government has
also implemented certain administrative tasks in order to encourage
private and foreign direct investment to Sri Lanka, and that the
country’s standing on the “ease of conducting business” indicators is
constantly improving.
I have every confidence that with the ongoing development programs of
the Government of Sri Lanka, and the continuing interest of investors
from all around the world, Sri Lanka will achieve its transition from a
former war-torn nation to one of the most developed countries in the
South Asian region in the medium term.
In closing, I take this opportunity to invite all of you, as leading
members of the global business community, to consider investing in this
country and joining us at this pivotal moment in our history.”
Excerpts of the speech by Secretary to the Ministry of Defence and
Urban Development, Gotabaya Rajapaksa to the members of the Young
Presidents’ Organisation at the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of
International Relations and Strategic Studies in Colombo recently. |