The Victor, the Victory and the Victorious

By Dr. Telli C Rajaratnam

Our Air force Pilots have returned to base. The air strikes have halted. The Naval boats have slowed their speed. The Army has slowed its pace. Aggression against innocent people by the LTTE and the Terrorists have been halted. When the President ordered our armed forces into combat as the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, he had three clear goals: to enable the Tamil people, the victims of some of the most vicious atrocities in the North due to terrorists and militant groups, to return to their homes with safety; to destroy the LTTE; and to deploy our armed Forces to protect all the people of the North. Those goals were achieved. Unnecessary conflict has been brought to a just and honorable conclusion. The Military Advisor was Secretary of Defence, Dr.Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

The Victor is President Mahinda Rajapaksa, The Victory was inevitable due to the patriotic deeds of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Victorious are the Nation as a whole.

Saviour of the Nation

Thousands of men, women and children driven from their lands are preparing to return home. The demands of an outraged community have been met. We have achieved a victory for a safer world, for our democratic values, and for a stronger Sri Lanka.

People's President

"There go my people, I must follow them, for I am their Leader" were the words of Mahatma Gandhi practised to the very syllable by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. That is the secret of his success. Amidst the turbulent waves of politics and the intricacies of conspiracies by vested interests- President Mahinda Rajapaksa will be re-elected as the President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka for the third term.

Leader of the Nation

Never in the political history of any country has so many opposition members joined and supported the President whom they once opposed. Through the experience he gained through many political tidal waves and his survival to become the Leader of the Nation. President Mahinda Rajapaksa knows no fear. He has no doubts. He thinks very hard before he makes decisions and once made he will justify his cause with his skills of advocacy which has won over his opponents.

The sorrow experienced by the people and the tears shed by them was for patriotism. We know the pain, the anguish and we too shudder to think of the darkest hours in our history in the process of destroying the LTTE. We appreciate the countries, the local People who by sending generous assistance to the refugees and for opening their hearts and homes to the innocent victims made the task of settling the IDP's easier.

Liberation

We fought and liberated the people held in hostage, what we achieved and what we have to do now is to advance the peace and together with the people, forge a future of freedom, progress and harmony.

This can be done only under the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa

The Terrorists were the cause for men of all ages to be separated from their loved ones, killed and forced to join the Terrorists, children made to watch their parents die; a whole lots of people forced to abandon in hours communities, their families had spent generations building.

Settlement of IDPs

The IDPs could barely talk about what they had been through. All they had left was hope that the world would not turn its back. The President was deeply moved by them. The President has settled a large number of IDPs he has provided housing, shelter, healthcare, education and sustenance. Moreover, by his personal visit he has touched their hearts and in turn they have touched his by their appreciation.

Liberation of a Nation

When our diplomatic efforts to avert this horror with the LTTE were rebuffed, and the violence mounted, the President took affirmative action. Now the people are free, the roads that were closed for years have opened, the people have been liberated.

The schools in the North have been re-opened, they have freedom to shape their destiny. No more nights of hiding in bunkers and cellars, wondering if the next day will bring death or deliverance. People can walk about freely without fear of explosions.

Now, all communities must join hands in unity and assist President MahindaRajapaksa to continue the development work.

Finally, we have averted the wider war this conflict might well have sparked. Now, we're entering a new phase - building that peace - and there are formidable challenges, the foremost amongst them is the stability of Leadership and the Government.

Minefields will have to be cleared. Homes destroyed by the war will have to be rebuilt. Homeless people in need of food and medicine have been assisted and day in and day out they are gradually settled. The fate of the missing will have to be determined. But this next phase also will be dangerous. Bitter memories will still be fresh, we have to prevent vested interests from exploiting the situation by mud slinging campaigns perpetrated by the opposition and its allies whilst still be cautious of those amongst us who may betray especially the Terrorists groups whose survival was dependant on the survival of the LTTE.

Saviour of the Nation

All the Tamil groups and parties with blood in their hands cannot convince the Tamil people. The Tamil people have now learnt by their mistakes and misunderstanding that the democratically elected President Mahinda Rajapaksa is their only salvation.

But the Tamil militants should be unarmed and their militant identities destroyed. The Tamil Political Parties should stop exploiting the people and the Government.