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| Wednesday, 14 July 2004 |
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Politics | |
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| Govt. working to achieve permanent peace - Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake Minister of Public Security, Law and Order and Deputy Minister of Defence Ratnasiri Wickremanayake who was on a tour of Armed Forces Units in the North to look into the welfare of services personnel said that the Government will shortly work out a scheme to give adequate relief to the personnel to enjoy more leisure time and relieve them of the frustration for having served for a long period in one place. The Minister who said that the purpose of his visit was to look into the difficulties experienced by the forces personnel working in North and East said that one aspect he noted during his recent visit was that a large number had been serving for long periods in one place without much free time to spend with their families. They have limited scope for leisure in view of the fact theirs was a 24 hour task. Being in one place also leads to some degree of frustration. "We would look into ways of giving you relief" he said. The Minister was accompanied on his visit by the Commander of the Army Lt. Gen. Shantha Kottegoda, Commander of the Navy Rear Admiral Daya Sandagiri and the Air Force Commander Air Vice Marshall G.D. Perera. The Minister was received on arrival at the Palali Airport by Jaffna Security Forces Commander Major General M.D.S. Chandrapala. Minister Wickremanayake addressed the Security Forces of 51 Division, Air Force and Police personnel at the Palay Gymnasium. He later travelled to the Muhamalai Army Checkpoint on the A9 road and also inspected the Army bunkers as well. He was briefed on the Entry and Exit points at Muhamali by General Officer Commanding Brigadier V.R. de Sila. He addressed all ranks from the 52,53,55 Divisions and Police Personnel at Muhamali at the Gemunu Watch headquarters. The Minister also visited Nagadeepa Viharaya and the Naval base at Kankesanturai. He said that whether there was a war or not even during peacetime the Armed Forces have certain responsibilities to perform. They have to always be in a state of preparedness and alert and have to continue their training. He had a knowledge of the problems faced by the personnel and they would work out ways of providing relief. He said that one way of relieving them to spend more leisure time is to recruit more personnel to work in their place when they go home on leave. This aspect is also being looked into. The country is indebted to you for the services you have rendered and we have to look after your welfare as well, the Minister said. Minister Wickremanayake said that the services personnel have a responsibility to perform now that a ceasefire is in force. They hope that the ceasefire would be a permanent one. It is the wish of all that it is so and the Government is working to achieve a permanent peace upholding democratic principles which would satisfy all sections of the people. |
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