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.
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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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