Prime architect of Sri Lanka’s war on terror

Ranil Wijayapala

When the world’s sole superpower the United States declared a global war on terrorism following the devastating terror attack on the Twin Towers and on Pentagon on September 11, 2001, this tiny island nation which was battered by brutal terrorism was one of the first nations to follow in the footsteps of the worldwide campaign against global terrorism.

As the entire world was struggling to evolve new methods to fight global terror, this island nation was also applying many methods including peace negotiations, discussions, ceasefires, political solutions and military solutions to see an end to the cancerous menace of terrorism.

However, all those attempts went up in smoke, leaving this island nation paralyzed in all aspects and above all leaving national security in peril.

The once famous ‘paradise island’, turned into an ‘island of blood’ as bomb blasts, suicide bombings massacres and daylight killings became common with the LTTE terror outfit carrying out its inhumane campaign, hiding its ugly face behind a ceasefire.

They went on a rampage under the cover of the Ceasefire, without an iota of respect to humanity killing even an internationally reputed personality like Lakshman Kadirgamar, the Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka, putting the country’s national security to lowest depths.

Under these circumstances, the entire nation was yearning for a leader who could stand firmly committed for one vision and a mission to fight the world’s most ruthless terror outfit - the LTTE - which was considered an invincible force, both locally and internationally.

It was at this juncture the entire nation elected its new leader, President Mahinda Rajapaksa, hailing from ‘Giruva Pattuva’ in the deep South. Most were unaware of the fact that they were electing a legendary leader who could change the destiny of the nation rising above all the challenges before the nation.

The four years of his Presidency proved that he was a leader who can face any challenge. He proved to the nation that he was a leader who could accomplish whatever task before him despite the fact that he hailed from the common masses of the country, in the backdrop of the misconception that he would not be able to muster much needed international support to accomplish his mission.

The entire nation salutes him as the leader who upheld the national security of the country and as a leader who enabled the common masses to stand on their feet as proud citizens of Sri Lanka anywhere in the world.

It was for his firm decision to go ahead with the humanitarian operation in Mavil Aru, when the LTTE deprived innocent civilians in Trincomalee South of their drinking water in 2006, that the entire nation applauded his exemplary leadership.

Even when the entire international community exerted pressure on the Government not to go ahead with the operation to liberate innocent civilians in Puthukudiyiruppu, Puthumathalan and Vellaimullivaikkal, he was firm in his decision to bring peace, defeat terrorism and liberate hundreds of thousands of innocent Tamil civilians who were kept by the LTTE as a human shield.

From Mavil Aru to Mullaivaikkal where the entire nation saw the complete defeat of the LTTE, he withstood all local and international pressures and conspiracies, displaying the sterling qualities of a great leader and a Commander-in-Chief.

His success behind these achievements in the sphere of national security came through his firm belief in local expertise. Unlike other leaders who always sought foreign expertise, he believed in local expertise and methods in carrying out the campaign against terrorism.

The small team operation concept of the Sri Lanka Army, the indigenous methods evolved by the Sri Lanka Navy to face suicide terrorism or the manual handling of air bombing by the Sri Lanka Air Force set the record straight to the world about the success behind the great victory.

Today, Sri Lanka can boast of its victory against LTTE terrorism, as it never followed the modules of another nation, in its effort to defeat the most ruthless terror outfit in the world. As a matured leader, and a person with the common touch, President Rajapaksa always believed in indigenous solutions, whatever the problems confronted by the nation.

As the Commander in Chief of the Security Forces, he meticulously selected a team of military leaders, appointing Gotabhaya Rajapaksa as the Defence Secretary and three battle hardened Tri Forces Commanders, whom he believed capable of achieving the task in his mind.

That was the strong foundation he laid soon after he assumed the Presidency in 2005. Not only was he able to select the correct people to the correct positions in the Sri Lankan Security Forces, he also kept his confidence in them when launching humanitarian operations to liberate hundreds of thousands of civilians who were under the grip of the Tiger outfit.

His exemplary leadership was a tower of strength for the Security Forces to carry out their duty unhindered as he withstood all international and local pressures that came their way at crucial junctures of the war.

He was there with the Security Forces whenever they came under criticism due to false propaganda campaigns of the LTTE. He stood by the Security Forces and stood for justice. He provided all the resources needed by the Tri Forces, from T-56 weapons to Multi Barrel Rocket Launchers and battle tanks for the Sri Lanka Army, from MiG 27 fighter jets to F-7 interceptors for the Sri Lanka Air Force and from gun boats to Offshore Petrol Vessels for the Navy.

They flowed into the country without any complaints about funding. As Finance Minister and Defence Minister, he never considered fulfilling those requirements of the Security Forces as a burden to the national economy as long as the Security Forces achieved their objective.

‘National Security’ was his foremost priority during the past four years of his leadership, despite the fact that he was not ready to ignore the development requirements of the country. All other Governments had used the war as a convenient excuse to stall development projects.

He was not a leader who believed in weapons or machines, but always considered that it was the men behind those machines and weapons who can guide the nation towards the victorious path. That was why he always encouraged his Government to cater to the requirements of those valiant soldiers who were ready to sacrifice their precious lives in the battlefront for the sake of their Motherland.

That was why he raised the strength of the Tri Forces, understanding the requirement to maintain the victory they have achieved through many sacrifices.

He never allowed the morale of the soldiers in the battlefront to be affected by any unwarranted remarks by disgruntled elements, throughout the humanitarian operation from Mavil Aru to Mullaivaikkal in Mullaitivu.

It was his encouraging and healing words and the assurance given for a better future that kept them going to achieve that unprecedented victory until they saw the body of that megalomaniac terrorist Velupillai Prabhakaran on the banks of Nanthikadal lagoon and to liberate the lives of those civilians kept by the LTTE as a shield.

His four years of leadership kept the Sri Lanka Security Forces on the highest pedestal unparalleled to any of the Security Force in the world without leaving a trail in the war against terrorism, when the superpowers, the main architects of the global war on terrorism, are struggling to achieve it in Afghanistan and Iraq.