Why the world should rally round Sri
Lanka
Redeveloping the Eastern Province is,
indeed, one of our highest priorities. Considering the importance
attached to the ‘hearts and minds’ component of quelling disaffection
and terror, the State could not do better than ensure the well being of
the Eastern Province, now that the State is re-asserting its authority
almost in full in the region.
Concurrently, the world community would be acting with foresight by
responding positively to Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogallagama’s call to
siphon all the material and moral support they can muster, to bring
prosperity and well being to the East.
Minister Bogollagama has voiced this pronouncement to no less a
person than UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and we hope the
international community would rally round this highly worthy cause.
We need hardly say that the task of rejuvenating the Eastern Province
of Sri Lanka has just begun. The fine military victories scored by the
Security Forces in the province have only brought to completion the
military component of defeating terror.
From now on, the ‘hearts and minds’ battle must begin and this
involves meeting the material and developmental needs of the Eastern
populace on a sustained and systematic basis.
This is insightful thinking on the part of the State because an armed
separatist rebellion could not be considered as having been quelled
completely as long the material and other urgent needs of the population
groups in question go unmet by the State.
Therefore, no one could question the wisdom of emphasising the need
for more and more development. Accordingly, the world would do well to
cooperate with Sri Lanka.
It should be plain to see that any hesitation on the part of the
world community to meet Sri Lanka’s request would only ultimately
benefit the LTTE which is all out to exploit public disaffection to the
maximum.
For, if the East remains in the economic doldrums, the ravenous
Tigers would make most out of it by exploiting public grievances. So,
development is indeed the path to conflict resolution and we are certain
that the world too would see it this way.
This clear emphasis on development should convince the world that the
State is not playing with words when it says that it is keen on finding
a political solution to our conflict. If at all making progress towards
a political solution has proved difficult so far, it is because Tiger
terror has been getting in the way.
How could a development thrust take hold in the North-East when the
LTTE has been all out to scuttle it? Besides, how could the North-East
people be helped substantially when they suffer in the tyrannical grip
of the LTTE?
Therefore, it stands to reason that the LTTE should be got out of the
way and the Security Forces have been doing just that while operating
within the parameters of the CFA. After all, the Tigers have been posing
a grave threat to the national interest.
It is in consideration of all this that the world community should
hearken to Sri Lanka’s call to put an end to the Tigers’ fund-raising
and arms procurement operations. It is all too obvious that the State
intends bringing prosperity and well being to the liberated areas of the
North-East. The world is conscience-bound to help Sri Lanka in this
momentous task.
If the Tigers are allowed to replenish their arsenals, it is the LTTE
and the LTTE alone which would get in the way of peace in Sri Lanka.
Accordingly, the world would be promoting a political solution to our
conflict by helping to break the military muscle of the Tigers. |
‘Media have to play vibrant role in peace effort’
We have noticed that certain Tamil papers show
bias towards the LTTE, probably out of fear. If they criticise the
LTTE, there will be problems the next day. We are aware of that. The
freedom should come from that side not from us. Can they ever
interview Douglas Devananda or Anandasangaree without offending the
LTTE !
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Graceful, nimble and ageless...
Queen of Lankan Ballet Vajira turns 75 today:
“I danced for about 60-65 years. I started
professional dancing when I was 15,” Vajira recalls. Vajira is the
name that always blends with Chitrasena and Sri Lankan ballet dance
tradition. “I love to be called a teacher than anything else as I
started my journey as a teacher and I still am,” the Queen of Ballet
remarks.
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Party discipline is important if Government wants to set an
example
For too long, political parties have ignored
discipline within the parties for the benefit of their party leaders
who wish to continue holding onto their reigns. Indecency and
indiscipline amounting to hooliganism & thuggery have become the
accepted norm in this country.
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Survival is cold comfort in AIDS-stricken rural China
[intro – Editorial page only] With the
familiarity of a long-married couple, Leng Zhijin lifts his wife
Wang Xiangying’s ragged blouse to show raw rashes and she grasps his
shoulder, gaunt after 20 days of diarrhoea.
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