Toppigala Victory

In the eyes of the people:

by Indeewara Thilakarathne

As Sri Lanka army captured the hilly terrain of Toppigala or Baron's Cap, the last LTTE bastion in the East and the victory celebrated on the independence square, it is pertinent to ponder on how people take it in, against the backdrop of rising cost of living and other social woes.

Seizure of the Toppigala marked the end of a long march from Mavil Aru and the trail of military success including the fall of strategic Sampur and Vakarai which posed serious threat to Trincomalee naval base. During the 58 days of bloody battle (April 8 to July 11), Phase ii of the military operation West of the A-5 Maha Oya-Chenkaladi high way, valiant soldiers sacrificed their precious lives while many others were injured.

Although some interested sections tried hard to down play the liberation of the East by the military, people of different walks received the fall of Toppigala with mixed feelings ranging from high hopes of eradicating terrorism to a mere political rhetoric on the part of the government. A cross section of people consisting vegetable sellers in the Pettha market to the busy business executives and professionals expressed their candid views on the military success and its impact on their lives.

Ameradasa Gunasekara, a dentist said, "Government has sent a strong message to the LTTE that the state of Eelam is something that is unachievable. It is the responsibility of all to encourage the military while condoling with the bereaved families as the valiant soldiers have sacrificed their lives so that the people can live in peace.

It is a victory worthy of celebration and the liberation of the East by security forces, certainly, marks the beginning of the end of Prabhakaran's rule and his shattered dream of an illusive state of Eelam. President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa should be commended for providing political leadership to the military that led to the military victory.

I believe that terrorism should be eradicated and that the government's military effort should be supported by all patriotic forces and people should also prepare to tighten their belts, at least, for some time, till the army marches into the last LTTE bastion.

JHU and JVP should continue to support the government at this critical juncture to protect it from alien conspiracies and pro-LTTE local and foreign agents who are hell bent on scuttling military effort on the part of the government to save the LTTE from a crushing defeat.

Especially people should be aware of the disinformation campaign launched by conspirators through privately owned TV and Radio channels. I believe that what we have is Terrorism not an ethnic question as wrongly interpreted by LTTE's local agents and NGO's who lobby and survive on foreign aid."

Amera Chandrasekara, a vegetable seller in the Pettha market said, "Although business is affected by the war as cost of living goes up, day by day, I am prepared to forego even two meals if the government can liberate the country from the clutches of terrorism.

I am proud of my only son who is a soldier in the battle front. I wish that soon the army would be able to defeat terrorism and bring peace to the country. Here in Pettah market, we are doing business with Tamils and Muslims and we do not have any problems. I think that people should support the President and the armed forces to eradicate terrorism so that the government can develop the country."

Saman Ratnayake, a doctor who is relatively unaffected by the war said, "Though I am immune to inflation to a certain extent. I also feel the impact of fighting whenever I go shopping as I have to pay double the amount I previously paid for the same amount of goods.

My fervent hope is that this senseless fighting should end for good so that people would, once again, be able to live in harmony and any person can live in any part of the country from South to the north then business will flourish and new employment opportunities will be created.

I believe that the final solution to the national question is a political solution, some kind of devolution of power. As a doctor, I have treated injured soldiers as well as injured civilians and therefore, I have had enough experience of conflict and war though I am not a soldier.

No person with an iota of understanding of the socio-economic repercussion of war should advocate war as a final solution to the national question. It is my fervent hope that peace be achieved as soon as possible so that the people could reap the benefit of development."

Ranjith, a city-based three-wheeler driver said, "We three-wheeler drivers fully support the governments fight against terrorism, although we face hardships in terms of increase in fuel prices and reducing hires. As people do not have money, they are often reluctant to hire a taxi or a three-wheeler.

We also do not get foreigners since the Air Force camp was attacked and LTTE's air raids on the city. We hope that the army would be able to defeat LTTE militarily so that there would be a lot of business. Seizure of Toppigala is a victory that should be celebrated", pointing to a tiny Lion Flag fixed on a side-mirror.

Most of the people were of the opinion that though the army could defeat the terrorist militarily, the final solution to the national question should be political and that people should support the government's avowed war on terrorism even though some sacrifices have to be made so that peace becomes a reality.

(Names of persons in the article are fictitious)

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