Ministry of Defence:
Message from Defence Secretary
I
am indeed privileged to issue this message on the first anniversary of the
magnificent victory achieved by our heroic Security Forces over the dark forces
of terror that engulfed this country for over 30 years.
It was President Mahinda Rajapaksa's single-minded pursuit of an era free of
terrorism that led to the humanitarian mission to save the civilians terrorised
by the LTTE and liberate the entire North and the East from the cancer of
terrorism. The valiant members of the three Armed Forces, ably assisted by
Police and Civil Defence Force personnel, rose to this challenge and
successfully eliminated the world's most ruthless terrorist group from our soil
while rescuing innocent Tamil civilians from unfathomable terror and tyranny.
As we celebrate Victory Day, let us remember with gratitude those brave men
and women of the three Forces, Police and the Civil Defence Force who laid down
their lives to defend their Motherland's sovereignty, territorial integrity and
unitary status for the last 30 years. We should also remember those that had
been disabled in the battlefield. We shall do everything possible to ensure the
welfare of their families. The public can contribute to this noble cause by
donating generously to the Api Wenuwen Api Fund.
Their sacrifices, had not been in vain as we have achieved freedom for all
communities of the land. Today, the North and the South are irrevocably linked
and the people are freely mingling with each other. The Government has
established a Reconciliation Commission to take this process forward. An
honourable peace for all is the Government's aim.
We assure the Nation at this moment that there will be no opportunity
whatsoever for separatist terrorist forces to rise again in our beloved
Motherland. We shall also guard against external threats against our sovereignty
and war heroes. No force, local or international, will be able to throw a
lifeline to certain forces still seeking the division of Sri Lanka. The National
Flag will flutter proudly in all parts of the country, which will never ever be
divided again.
As Sri Lankans, we should be proud that terrorism has been eradicated from
our land even as many advanced countries are still grappling with the problem.
It is indeed a victory worth celebrating, a victory that will be written in
golden letters in our annals.
Freedom will prevail!
Gotabaya Rajapaksa RWP RSP psc MSc
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