A hard won freedom

By Shanika SRIYANANDA

Bright Sri Lanka flags dotted every inch of the country yesterday to celebrate the country's Independence, especially the three-year-freedom gained after defeating the world's most ruthless terrorists – the LTTE. It was a day when the whole of Sri Lanka stood as one nation to make a promise to collectively march towards a common goal - a new nation.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa, being the most committed leader in Lanka's recent history believed and proved that by defeating the LTTE was not impossible, requested the nation to value the freedom gained through many sacrifices at the main function held in Anuradhapura to celebrate the 64th Independence Day. "You know freedom is an immense responsibility for us today. During the war previous governments could blame everything on the war and escape. However, the people who reached peace after war expected to march from inefficiency to efficiency, from unemployment to employment, from impurity to purity and from backwardness to modernity.

The people who then forgot everything else and demanded a bunker for the village and a rifle to defend lives, today expect not only electricity, water, housing, highways, higher education but also a law abiding, clean and a modern Sri Lanka. What you requested me when I visited Kebithigollawa some time ago is different from what you request me today.

Therefore, during the three years after gaining freedom from terrorism we have been able to use that freedom to give the Motherland immense value, much more than that given during the half century since independence in 1948. Today we have built the country to that status when we could draw the map of the Motherland more proudly than then.We have still a long way to go. We have to give the rural people who comprises 80% of our population the results of giant development work that we have initiated in the country.

Challenge

It is not only an expectation but also a challenge which we are ready to take up", he said reiterating the government's committment for reconciliation.

"The government is committed to implement the recommendation of the LLRC report, which was stated that all groups are equally responsible for the ethnic conflict in the country.

Anyone who believes in their conscience must take this into account. We presented the learnings of the committee report on December 17 and within these six weeks we have worked our utmost to ensure that the recommendations are implemented,” he said.“The implementation of the proposals of any extremist group won’t be useful to the country. We want permanent and sustainable peace and we are committed to this vision. Any race or ethnic group does not belong to a different province or city.

The country belongs to all races and ethnicities alike,” he said. In his message he said : "Our nation is fortunate to celebrate the 64th Independence Day with a genuine sense of dignity about freedom.

The way is open for an independent economy. It daily reinforces the nation's aspiration for a prosperous future.

It has given us freedom to decide upon issues concerning the country and the nation without bowing down before external powers. I strongly believe that is the immense responsibility the nation entrusted to us. It is a great pleasure to see the steady consolidation of supreme independence.'The country's achievements would be secured when opportunities for peace, co-existence as well as harmonious living are widened. Sacrifices made so far to reach that objective have to be secured in future too. We would no longer hesitate to take decisions towards fostering national unity through an indigenous programme of action.

Friendly relations

We overcame diverse challenges the country faced with extreme patience. We have built a productive economic, political, defence, trade and cultural links with the international community through friendly relations. We must preserve all this by working more rationally, intelligently and patriotically than even before.'Similarly, the country should be brought forward developing its value systems.

It is only then that a prosperous life would emerge in a peaceful environment.'The nation's respect and felicitations should go to all patriots who paid the supreme sacrifice, laying down their lives to overcome the nation's challenges for the sake of supreme independence", he has stated.Several leaders, including Queen Elizabeth II congratulated the President on taking tremendous strides towards development in the aftermath of the three-decade conflict.

"It gives me great pleasure to send Your Excellency my congratulations on the celebration of your National Day, together with my best wishes for the happiness and prosperity of the Government and people of Sri Lanka in the coming year," the Queen said in her message.

Among them are the Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, Chinese President Hu Jintao, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar Thein Sen, Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, Singapore, Cambodia, Republic of Austria, Czech Republic, Malaysia and Thailand.Prior to taking part in Independence Day celebrations, the President participated in several religious ceremonies and public functions held throughout last week.

He unveiled the Ranveta (gold plated fence) constructed around the Bodhiya of the historic Somawathi Raja Maha Viharaya in Polonnaruwa.

Homage

Before proceeding to open the Ranveta, he paid homage and offered Pooja at the Somawathi Chethiya which houses Buddha Relics and also unveiled the memorial plaque amidst the chanting of pirith by the Maha Sangha to open the newly built Ranveta. President Rajapaksa also opened the new Sanghawasa built at the Rajamaha Viharaya and laid the foundation stone to build the Sanghawasa in 2004 during his tenure as the Prime Minister.

Addressing the gathering after launching the Polonnaruwa water supply project, which was built at a cost of Rs.5,020 million to provide safe drinking water to over 80,000 people in 42 GS divisions in the district, President Rajapaksa reiterated the government's committment to find a home grown solution to meet the aspirations and needs of the people. " In finding solutions to whatever issues the country faces, the government would always look for home-grown methods.

The solutions to country’s problems should come from within based on dialogue and understanding and stressed that he and the government were always prepared to listen and were open for discussion to resolve any issues on behalf of the people".

"This is not the time for divisive politics but for unity to uphold the people’s trust by improving their living standards and ensuring them a better and prosperous future. This is the responsibility of all politicians", he said urging all Sri Lankans, irrespective of differences, to stand united to achieve equity in both the country’s and people’s development.

Reap benefits

He stressed the need of achieving equity in development and said development should not be confined to one area. " It should be equally distributed in all areas. All people, irrespective of differences, should reap its benefits. We should all stand as one. This is our aim. To achieve the above he said the government had a commitment to provide equal facilities and was prepared to do so to the best of its ability", he said.

"It is imperative to have unity to go forward. The government is always prepared to listen to constructive criticism and learn from observations. But what is the gain of spreading hatred and spurring divisions, he questioned.

He said that the media too had a duty to engage in constructive criticism, highlight people's aspirations, government's development for the greater good of the people, without engaging in slander which could spawn hatred and divisions", he said emphasizing the government’s commitment to develop areas which had been neglected due to the 30-year scourge of terrorism.

In the middle of last week, a book titled Giruwapattuwe Maha Mahinda compiled by Prime Minister D. M. Jayaratne was presented to President Rajapaksa by the Prime Minister at Temple Trees.

It is a collection of articles and commentaries about the President and articles are written by 22 people, including Ven Dr. Aluthwewe Soratha Thera, Prime Minister D. M. Jayaratne, Senior Attorney Gomin Dayasri, Rev Sarath Hettiarachchi and the late Prof Mendis Rohanadheera. Secretary to the Prime Minister S. Amarasekara was also present on the occasion.