Let all Tamil children enjoy equal rights - President

Rohan Mathes

COLOMBO: President Mahinda Rajapaksa emphasised that all Tamil Children should have equal access to education and enjoy the privileges that were enjoyed by the children of the terrorist leaders.

President Rajapaksa made this assertion when he participated as the Chief Guest at the colourful and prestigious 'President's and Regimental Colours Awarding Ceremony' of the Gajaba Regiment, in Galle Face yesterday.

President Rajapaksa said, "We should ensure that the environment in which innocent Tamil children are forcibly dragged into war is ended and that their rights and their access to education is guaranteed. In short, you are engaged in a war to deliver these rights and facilities to them, as enjoyed by the children of Terrorists' Leaders".

Speaking further, President Rajapaksa opined that as published in a recent Tamil poster, the Tamil polity need not have any other national enemies, as long as the LTTE exists.

This fact is firmly rooted in the hearts of the Tamil people. They will from their very own voices, echo it to the whole world, once terrorism is totally eradicated. They would rejoicingly praise their services then.

Lauding the yeoman service extended by the Gajaba Regiment throughout its history to the nation, in protecting its sovereignty and its territorial integrity, he said that their specialty and greatness has been protected and maintained by their high standard of disclipine.

"The success or the failure of any Army and their strength rests solely on their disclipine. When serving in your operational areas, you are obliged to consistently protect the human rights of all the people. You should have the strength to identify the terrorists from the innocent Tamil community. This is your disclipine", President Rajapaksa stressed.

While paying tribute to the valiant soldiers who had sacrificed their dear lives and to those who were made disabled while on battle, President Rajapaksa also reminisced the heroic and pioneer leader of the Gajaba Regiment the late Vijaya Wimalarathna, whom he knew personally.

"The success story of the Gajaba Regiment is due to the service rendered by this gallant and unique soldier Vijaya Wimalarathna", he added.