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Defeating the defamation campaign

Substantiating the now well recognized fact that an attempt is underway by interested parties, to besmirch the good name of Sri Lanka, Head of the People's Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL), Kingsley Rodrigo, is on record that some political parties and groups are gearing fully to defame the image of the State at the forthcoming sessions of the UN Human Rights Council.

As explained by the PAFFREL chief, the approach adopted by these parties is to pin the blame on the State for gruesome crimes, such as killings and abductions.

This amounts to flying in the face of reason and common knowledge because the whole of Sri Lanka knows that most of these crimes are committed by the acknowledged masters of crime, the LTTE.

Take for example the killing of Karuna activists, whose bodies were found dumped in an open grave. Also we need to consider the numerous abductions which are being carried out by extortionists and other crime gangs. How could the responsibility for these revolting crimes be laid at the doorstep of the Lankan State ?

Accordingly, an attempt at defaming the image of the State could be said to be on. By campaigning in the run-up to the Geneva conference, these sinister elements are all out to cause embarrassment to the Government of Sri Lanka. In other words, Sri Lanka is being held up to ridicule and shame.

In the face of these attempts at damning the State, the latter cannot remain complacent or idle. The agencies of the State should now hit smartly back and expose the falsity of these misleading claims. The completely baseless nature of the malicious charges should be fully exposed.

In such situations, it just would not do for the agencies of the State to play a reactive role. Knee-jerk reactions and adhoc responses would constitute a most weak strategy in handling the situations at hand. A proactive, vigorous and continuous intervention by these institutions and personnel of the State to put the record straight, is what is needed.

Very recently, a fine example of what is required in this regard was set by Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama in London. His address on the current foreign and security policy imperatives of the State was most enlightening and a timely record-straightener on the challenges faced by Sri Lanka. Besides, the destructive role played continuously by the Tigers was exposed to the world.

This was a fine example of what is expected by the State of Sri Lanka and its agencies. We need hardly say that our missions abroad should play a lead role in this regard.

We also need hardly say that the Tigers' propaganda mill is constantly at work, swilling the worst falsehoods about the Lankan State and the people. Sad to say, if the Tigers seem smart for some, this is entirely on account of the back seat role being played by some agencies of the State. This discouraging situation cannot be allowed to continue.

The propaganda arm of the Tigers must be paralysed and the most effective way to achieve this is to continuously expose the Tigers and their evil ways.

It is also relevant that our law and order machinery should be in fine fettle. If more arrests of Tigers and their agents are made, this would reflect very well on the State. It will suit the State's purpose to thus expose the LTTE in world fora.

Therefore, we once again say that our law enforcers should heed the advice of President Rajapaksa and be proactively involved in crime busting.

Time to stop emotional and verbal abuse of children in preschools

A family of six walked into our Research College one late January day. Of the three children the youngest was the one with "a problem". It turned out that he was terrified of teachers. The child's preschool teachers seemed kind but they had heard from other parents that they were not so sweet after the gates were closed.

Full Story

Home Guards - the pulse of the village

After June 2006 when these attacks increased again, President Mahinda Rajapaksa decided to re-organise and strengthen the Home Guard Force using their valuable experience after giving them a proper training.

Full Story

How the manipulators in the UNP engineered the exodus of the reformists

Since the takeover of the party leadership by Ranil Wickremesinghe in 1995, he changed the Party Constitution to make him leader for life. Then changes were made, to make the Party Working Committee a tool of the leader.

Full Story

Diabetes a growing problem in newly rich Asia

Health experts say Asians are especially at risk for diabetes caused by excess weight, fatty foods and lack of exercise as the Asian metabolism has over the centuries adapted to a frugal diet and a hard-working lifestyle.

Full Story

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