LTTE terrorists struggling to divide motherland

President to Sri Lankans in Italy:

ITALY: The LTTE terrorists are engaged in an effort to divide the nation. Certain Sinhala and Tamil groups are aiding and abetting it, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The President was addressing the Sri Lankans domiciled in Italy during his official visit to Rome recently.

The Government today has to face the challenge posed by the most ruthless terrorist outfit in the world.”

What’s happening in Sri Lanka is not a Tamil Liberation war or a war between Tamils and Sinhalese as the LTTE tried to portray to the outside world, President Rajapaksa said.

He thanked the Sri Lankans domiciled in Italy for rallying round to help their motherland during the tsunami and decry acts of terrorism.

He said he was happy to have an opportunity to brief them firsthand on the Sri Lankan situation from the Government angle.

The President said the LTTE was trying to portray its acts of terrorism as a liberation war on the one hand and a war between Tamils and Sinhalese on the other through false propaganda carried out in Western counties to garner International support.

He said there has never been any religious clashes for the last 2550 years. However, there had been acts of violence at various times in the past and there had always been a political hand behind them.

The LTTE is today clearly engaged in an effort to divide the nation and there were certain Sinhala and Tamil groups who were aiding and abetting it. The issue has festered beyond easy solution.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa said soon after he took oaths as President on November 19, 2006 the LTTE without giving him any breathing space explored a claymore mine in Jaffna on December 5 killing several soldiers.

They launched a suicide attack on April 25 on the Army Commander causing him serious injuries.

Despite all these, there is no secret that we invited the LTTE for talks to negotiate a peaceful solution to the conflict.

After retaliating the April 26 LTTE attack for one day, we invited them to talks but they refused to attend. Earlier we held several rounds of talks with the LTTE in Geneva in a genuine effort to find a peaceful solution but they left the negotiation table abruptly citing flimsy reasons. Two of our Ministers who attended those talks are here with us today.

The LTTE incenced by the EU ban on them even demanded the withdrawal of EU representatives in the SLMM. However, as a responsible Government, we always considered it our duty to offer protection to the people of the country while patiently seeking negotiations.

But when the LTTE terrorists closed the Mavil Aru anicut, we waited patiently for five days and ordered the Security Forces to liberate it on behalf of the farmers who depended on the anicut to irrigate 35000 acres of paddy land.

Thereafter the LTTE attacked Muttur and expelled all Muslim residents from there. Then we had to advance on Muttur. When the LTTE later attacked the Trincomalee Naval Base from Sampur, we had to close in on Sampur as well.

The President said whenever the LTTE launches attacks, we have the right to retaliate such attacks and liberate the people from the terrorists’ clutches.

The whole of the Eastern Province has been liberated in this manner confining the terrorists to the Thoppigala forest.

The Government has now commenced resettlement of people in the Eastern Province. There were 15,000 IDPs in Vakarai and 14700 of them have been already resettled.

But the LTTE told the outside world that 75,000 people had been displaced while certain Human Rights Organisations claimed that there were lakhs of people in refugee camps. Actually there were only 65,000 people in these camps and the re-settlement has delayed due to the pre-occupation of the forces in clearing mines in the region.

Resettlement process in Vakarai has now been completed and the people there have been provided with electricity, hospitals and other infrastructure facilities.

In this manner, the Government has offered new hopes to the people liberated from LTTE clutches. While all these activities are being done by the Government, the LTTE is carrying out false propaganda claiming that the Government and the Security Forces are preventing pilgrims from visiting Madhu Church.

President Rajapaksa said the Government has been able to ensure a 7.5 per cent economic growth rate in the country and muster foreign investments totalling 650 million US dollars last year.

Today road network including tsunami damaged roads are being rapidly rehabilitated with foreign aid granted by the ADB, World Bank and Japan.

The Development which was restricted to the Western Province is being progressively extended to the rural sectors including the North and East. The Government has launched programme to promote spiritual and moral values among the people, while trying to free the country from terrorism and undertaking development work throughout the country.

Within a year of introducing the ‘Mathata Thitha’ (fullstop to liquor and drug menace) program the Government has been able to ensure a crime free new year celebration for the first time this year.

The Government has endeavoured to ensure a clear and visible change for the better in the country without leaving everything in the hands of the security forces.

The President said we set up the All Party Conference with the participation of all political parties. The SLFP will table its devolution proposals to the conference before the end of this month.

After discussing all proposals we are prepared to adopt a program acceptable to all including a more people friendly electoral system.

In the meantime certain people are trying to have an easy ride to power. We came to power the hard way by organising protest campaigns like “Pada Yatra”, ‘Jana Gosha’ and human chains.

Some of today’s political leaders have no strength to engage in such activities apart from running behind astrologers and soothsayers.

We request them to engage in anything in a democratic manner without betraying their motherland. We are today acting according to the mandate given by the people. It is the duty of all to desist from activities which may affect the morale of the security forces.

As President I have a duty to free the country from terrorism and create an environment for people of all communities and religions to live without fear. I wish to emphasise that I am committed to fulfil that duty. The President said “earlier I travelled abroad by SriLankan Airlines but I have today come in a new Airline called ‘Mihin Air’ which had been a target of criticism by certain vested interests.

By June this year, Mihin Air will provide you with two planes and you will be able to travel in this Budget Airline at 50 per cent less cost.

The President said the Government has directed all Sri Lankan embassies aborad to observe Wednesdays, as public days where Sri Lankan expatriate workers could discuss their problems with the Sri Lankan envoy and find solutions to them.I call upon you to safeguard ‘ourness’ and join hands in the struggle to protect the motherland.