We remember with great pain and sorrow all who lost their lives in the great tragedy - President

VENERABLE Members of the Maha Sangha, Respected members of the clergy of all religions, (The Hon. Chief Justice, The Hon. Speaker, Hon. Ministers and Members of Parliament, Governors of the Provinces, Chief Ministers, Your Excellencies of the Diplomatic Community).

My Dear Friends,

Exactly one year ago, at a moment just as this, our country faced the most devastating natural disaster in its history. The frenzied waves of the ocean struck at and broke into our land in a manner unexpected by any of us.

Not only us, but several other countries in Asia too had to face this deadly devastation. I should remind you that apart form Indonesia, the country that suffered most from that tsunami was Sri Lanka.

On that tragic day, not only those who lived by the sea, but the entire country and in fact the people of the entire world were driven to pain and sorrow by this disaster. Those frenzied waves took away the lives of nearly 40,000 of our own citizens.

That number included Sri Lankan nationals from the Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim, Malay, Burgher and all communities.

There were also many foreigners who had come here on holiday who lost their lives to the tsunami waves. The homes, roads, government and other constructions situated on the coastline were completely destroyed.

Today, at this moment, we remember with great pain and sorrow all those Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim, Malay, Burgher and other Sri Lankans, as well as those foreign visitors, who lost their lives in that great tragedy. We offer merit today on their behalf.

This ocean that surrounds us was driven to frenzy that day as to snatch away from us such a large number of people, in such a small time.

What should or could we have done when nearly 40,000 of our citizens were lost to us in such a short time? Can there be a nation in this world that is not shaken in pain and sorrow at such an experience? It is true that we remain shaken by the memories of that tragic event.

However, one year ago, we learnt in the most practical manner, that we are a nation with strong determination to face up to the most painful and demanding of challenges. We demonstrated and confirmed this before the entire world community.

On December 26 last year, the entire Sri Lankan nation was awakened. Our entire community of peoples rose up to the tragedy. They took whatever that could be of use into their hands and went in search of those who had been struck by this tragedy.

When I visited Jaffna within a few hours, the people there explained to me how members of our armed services had saved the lives of Tamil people and their children under the most difficult conditions. I learnt from the soldiers how they sacrificed their own meals to ease the pangs of hunger of the Tamil people struck by this tragedy.

Services yeoman service

In the East, particularly in places such as Arugambay, our soldiers had even saved the lives of members of the LTTE. The boundaries and fences put up by each other had fallen down in the face of tragedy.

People of all communities lived in the same refugee centres with no differences whatever. When I visited Batticaloa, it was none other than the Members of Parliament of the Tamil National Alliance from the Batticaloa District, who expressed their great appreciation of the dedicated service of relief by the members of the armed services.

A few hours after the tragedy had struck I was met at Temple Trees by a delegation of Members of Parliament from the Tamil National Alliance.

I recall how on this occasion among those who I met was none other that the Batticaloa District Member of Parliament, Mr. Joseph Pararajasingham, who was cruelly murdered as he was attending the Christmas religious service in church at Batticaloa the day before yesterday.

The Tsunami tragedy that struck us all that day had no racism in it. Similarly there was no racism in the great effort by the entire Sri Lankan people to rise again from that tragic devastation.

In fact, the strength of humanity and human values inherent on our society was best demonstrated in recent history in the immediate aftermath of the Tsunami tragedy.

Maha Sangha, clergy relief

Similarly, from the moment the Tsunami tragedy struck us all, the members of the Venerable Maha Sangha and the clergy of all other religions came out voluntarily to provide relief to those affected. Buddhist Temples, Hindu Kovils, Christian Churches and Muslim Mosques became refugee camps for all with no religious differentiation.

We were able within a very short time to restore the power supply that was seriously disrupted by the Tsunami. The workers and managers of the Railway Department, in a unique joint effort, without overtime payments, restored the southern coastline railway service within 52 days. The bridges destroyed on that stretch were also speedily repaired and restored.

We were together able, within a short time, to restore the country to a great degree of normalcy. The debris on the affected coastline was removed with the bare hands of determined people with a speed that was unbelievable to the people of other nations.

By the time friendly countries began supplying some technological assistance to remove debris nearly 90 per cent of it had already been removed. Our people gave all their unstinted effort for our country with great dedication.

That strength and power of our people undoubtedly proved that we are able, with strength and determination, to face up to and overcome any challenge that is before us. I strongly believe in this capability of our people.

It is our bounden duty to give due honour and recognition to that giant human awakening and the great strength in tragedy shown by our people.

Touched by aid

Similarly, our many friendly countries provided us with considerable help and assistance at that time.

Sri Lankans domiciled abroad and many people from other countries helped us with great commitment. I was particularly touched by the fact that even children in those foreign countries came out to the streets and helped in raising funds to help Sri Lanka in our time of tragedy.

I consider it both my duty and responsibility as the Head of State to offer my own thanks and that of the entire people of Sri Lanka, to all those countries and their peoples, and those foreign children, for the great assistance they rendered us at our time of need.

My dear friends,

I address you today standing on part of the ground that underwent great tragedy in that devastation by nature. I believe that the voices of those friends and relations, who were snatched away from us, continue to linger in the wind that blows towards us from the sea.

I believe there is a question remaining which, as I should ask myself you all too should ask yourselves. It is the question whether as a nation we have been able to do maximum justice by those who sacrificed their lives as victims of that terrible tragedy?

Have we been able to take forward unbroken towards the progress of this country, the immense strength of our people that was manifest together with that great tragedy? It is my belief that both you as much as I are unable to answer these questions to our entire satisfaction.

My dear friends,

There is no challenge that cannot be overcome by a nation that has awakened as one. There is no challenge that cannot be defeated by a nation that has joined rank to achieve a single aim with total commitment. We proved this in the weeks immediately after December 26, 2004.

I do not think that we need another tragedy to further establish this. There are many challenges that we Sri Lankans as a country and a nation have to overcome. We should resolve today to face all those challenges with great strength.

Is it not possible that this is the message that those friends and relations who were lost to us on that tragic day, demands of us who are living today? Could this not also be the message that those frenzied waves sought to bring to us in their fury? Should we now not give ear to that message?

Based on true revival

It is based on this resolution of true revival that I launch the "Jaya Lanka" programme today. I expect through the "Jaya Lanka" programme to carry forward with new and greater energy the task of building the homes and other property destroyed by the Tsunami. This will be carried out under my personal direction.

In the same manner that we accepted the challenge directed at us by the sea that surrounds our land one year ago, it is necessary that we are ready and prepared to face up to any challenge, in an even stronger manner, and successfully overcome them all.

There is little that can be done by those who continue to only weep in their sorrow or hide through cowardice. Those who face any challenge with self-confidence and preparedness can always be the victors. This is my firm resolve and I call upon all of you to make this your own resolve too.

May life after death be happy

May life after death of all our brothers, sisters, relations and friends who were lost to us in the Tsunami be happy! May our country or any other country and people never face such a tragedy again! May we receive the blessings and help of all who love humanity to complete with speed the great and noble programme being launched today to rebuild the country from the ravages of the Tsunami and build a New Sri Lanka! May all of you who join with great resolve to bring speedy relief to all those who have undergone the most tragic experiences from this devastation be bestowed with great strength and courage! May you and I, together be able to use all our strength to give to our country and nation the service that they seek of us! May you all have the strength and courage to be prepared in every way to overcome not only the challenges of nature but also the threats and challenges that emerge from among us all!

May you be blessed by the Triple Gem!

May you receive Divine Blessings!