|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Saturday, 01 January 2005 |
 |
|
 |
News | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
|
Like the Phoenix Sri Lanka will rise from the ashes by Ranil Wijayapala
President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga yesterday appealed to the Nation to resolve their differences and join hands and rise together from the ashes. In making the appeal, in her address to the nation at the Adhistana pooja at the Henry Pedris Stadium held with the participation of religious dignitaries and political leaders in memory of all those who were killed in the tidal wave destruction on Sunday, the President posed the question: "Can we treat each other similarly if nature has treated all of us alike." "The truth has been laid bare in all its darkness following the tsunami disaster," she said. A particular feature was the joining hands in unison of President Kumaratunga, leader of the SLFP and of the country, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse, Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and JVP leader Somawansa Amarasinghe.
The international news agency, Reuters yesterday reported that rebel political wing S. P. Thamilselvan even accepted a government's offer of aid and vowed to work with officials to get supplies of aid and said: "The tsunami may bring peace to Lanka." Reflecting on the lessons of the recent event has taught the country, the President said: "The mighty forces of Mother Nature has humbled all of us in the country." She appealed amongst all races, religions and communities to join hands and forget their differences for this country belongs to us all. The energy built up by one earthquake in the Indian Ocean, in the early hours of December 26, has generated 30,000 times the energy which was generated by the Hiroshima bomb, she said.
"What significance then should be accorded to the little quarrels and the petty conflicts that little groups of people within our nation manage to generate for a little bit of land or a little bit more of power. I would say none at all," the President added. President Kumaratunga said Sri Lankans possess a mere 65,000 sq. kilometres of precious land. "It belongs to all of us, each one of us, in the same way with the same privilege to use it with care. The tsunami has devastated our land with relentless indifference to regions, provinces, ethnicities and religions and all other man made frontiers. We have been left in the same devastation in the West, in the South, in the East and in the North," she added. "Nature has treated us all alike. Can't we treat each other similarly?", the President queried. President Kumaratunga said she as Head of State and her Government, was utterly and completely committed to do all that is required to reconstruct the devastated country. "It is no doubt the most tragic and the most massive disaster that Sri Lanka has known in its history. As a Sri Lankan citizen and as a mother, I, together with my Government and all those citizens who have had the privilege of living through this disaster, mourn with all those who have lost their dear ones and share in their pain and sorrow," the President added. She as the Head of State, extended her deepest and heartfelt sympathies to all Sri Lankans and Foreign Nationals affected in various different ways by this disaster, on her behalf and that of her Government. "I have no words to express my deepest gratitude to all the Sri Lankans, big and small, rich and poor who rose up magnificently during this disaster to assist those affected in every possible way," she said. "The world has responded equally massively to assist us in this hour of tragedy. I wish to thank on behalf of the Government and all Sri Lankans, all Foreign Governments, International Agencies as much as the thousands of foreign individuals who are sending us encouragement and assistance," she added. "We have lost much but we have gained in strength and courage enormously by the knowledge of the solidarity shown us by the entire world," the President remarked. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
