President Mahinda Rajapaksa on terrorism...

The humanitarian operation to relieve the country from the grips of terrorism has reached its final phase. A democratic environment for a political solution in which the power of all people will be amply strengthened is emerging. A revival of religious, cultural and moral values has taken place.

We have reached a decisive juncture in our journey towards peace and development. Exactly half of my term of office has been completed. At this point, it is important for all of us to look at our achievements during the past three years in retrospect and to know how we propose to go on our journey in the three years that is ahead of us.

At the time I assumed office, you would recall that the North and East of our country were controlled by terrorists. These areas were even declared as LTTE controlled areas. Illegal banking and Court operations were paid a blind eye. Innocent children were used as child soldiers and women were used as suicide bombers while operating large terrorist outfits in those areas.

Terrorism was permitted to be operated in wide scale not only allowing damage to human lives and property but also our economy and the democratic image of our country. There was no stable policy towards defeating terrorism. Innocent civilians in the North and East were subject to inhuman acts of terror and harassment for over 25 years.

The LTTE carried out brutal terrorist attacks and destroyed not only key economic centres such as the Central Bank, the oil refinery, Airport, and the World Trade Centre in Colombo but also globally acclaimed places of worship such as the Sri Maha Bhodiya and the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic.

Virtually, all our Tamil leaders who were widely respected in our society were brutally murdered. The LTTE killed more Tamil leaders than Sinhala leaders and virtually eliminated democratic representatives of the Tamil people.

The LTTE murdered not only those leaders who were dedicated towards peace and development but even Prime Minister of India who was a close friend of our country.

When Provincial Councils were established in 1988, the LTTE terrorists did not permit them to be functioned in the North and East.

Although many Governments put forward many proposals from time to time towards achieving peace, the LTTE` was not interested in moving away from terrorism. I am sure you would also remember that there was even a Peace Accord that was signed with these brutal terrorists in 2002.

It is a known fact that this Accord even acknowledged that the LTTE could administer according to their plans, in the LTTE controlled areas. In the pretext of tsunami rehabilitation efforts the LTTE was in fact consolidating their strength through Tsunami Rehabilitation Committees.

The ulterior motive behind all these attempts was to strengthen as an armed force but not to embrace the democratic process. This situation became uncontrollable and spread outside the North and East, affecting the entire country.

The situation got further complicated due to external interferences.

Whatever the remaining democratic machinery that was in existence in the North and East was also destroyed with the signing of the Peace Accord by the United National Front Government in a short-sighted and hasty manner.

Tamils, Muslims and the Sinhalese in the East were demeaned.

Security Forces were weakened. What I promised in Mahinda Chinthana is to move away from this unsuccessful old path already taken.

The path towards an undivided country, a majority consensus and a dignified peace as chosen in Mahinda Chinthana, after having realised the dire consequences of the old unsuccessful path that the country had already travelled.

We have come to a stage in which we believe that we should and we can, eradicate terrorism. However, we have not disregarded the need for a political settlement. Terrorists were initially permitted, for 10 months, to enter into a peaceful approach.

Brutal terrorists who were not amenable to a democratic solution proceeded to escalate violence with the massacre of innocent civilians including mothers and infants at Kebithigollewa and proceeded to close the Mavil Aru anicut, denying even drinking water that is a gift of nature to the people.

It is in this background that humanitarian operations were launched by our armed forces in the East, to rescue civilians, eradicate terrorism and to bring about a lasting peace to our country.

It is our responsibility to eradicate terrorism to create a democratic environment and development in the North as well as to enable people to have a free life. This is also the expectation of people living in those areas.

Our security forces were successful in liberating Mannar and Vavuniya districts and areas held by the LTTE in Trincomalee, Anuradhapura, Mullativu districts and Weli Oya. Our troops are advancing in their operations, having recovered a vast area in the Kilinochchi and Mulativu districts. I am very proud of the bravery and the victories of our armed forces.

I also value the thoughts from a humanitarian point of view - that the day on which we can rescue around 200,000 of our own fellow citizens living in the affected areas from the brutal grips of terror, is near.

Our security forces are fighting against the most ruthless terrorist organisation in the world, without causing any destruction to civilians, dams, hospitals, schools, temples or churches. These operations are truly commendable.

It is to eradicate terrorism through this true humanitarian exercise that we spent a substantial amount of money on national security during the last three years. This Parliament has fulfilled a tremendous social responsibility by giving the required approvals to incur such expenditure.Unfortunately, certain liberal members in the opposition and peace agents saw these as wasteful expenditure.However, we view such expenditure as a priority need towards establishing a stable economic environment to restore democracy, consolidate human rights and achieve economic development.People are committed to make any sacrifice to relieve our country from terrorism and restore a peaceful living environment, since they do not intend to permit their future generations to go through the same sufferings experienced for over 25 years. A country that is free of terrorism is also the prime need of private sector investors.

- President Mahinda Rajapaksa in Parliament on November 6, 2008