Ranil, Prabhakaran clamouring to oust Defence Secretary - Transport Minister

Lalith Nanayakkara

WELIGAMA: Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran are clamouring for the ouster of the country's most efficient Defence Secretary in its history who has been decorated with the Vishishta Seva medal thrice by three past executive Presidents, Transport Minister Dallas Alahapperuma said.

He was addressing a delegates conference of the Weligama SLFP electoral organisation held at the Weligama Pradesheeya Sabha auditorium last Saturday.

Alahapperuma said Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse first received the Vishishta Seva medal from late President J.R. Jayewardene for his bravery during the Vadamarachchi operation conducted under late Minister Lalith Athulathmudali.

He received the same medal once again from late President Premadasa for saving the lives of 253 soldiers trapped in Jaffna Fort under LTTE seige. He received this medal for the third time from Former President D.B. Wijetunge for his bravery during the Sampur operation.

The only person who detested Gotabhaya Rajapakse being Defence Secretary was Prabhakaran. Now Ranil Wickremesinghe too had joined Prabhakaran's bandwagon calling for the ouster of Rajapakse ignoring the commendations he received from three former UNP Leaders.

Alahapperuma said Security Forces morale had been at a very low ebb before Gotabhaya Rajapakse assumed office as Defence Secretary. Today it is at a peak because the war against terrorism is conducted with proper management eliminating corruption.

Security Forces personnel returning from the North and East on vacation would themselves vouch for this.

Today security forces personnel on the war front knew that they are engaged in a meaningful operation with a definite objective.

Alahapperuma said it was not so at the time President Rajapaksa assumed office. The CFA had given undue advantage to the LTTE with the Tigers operating their own police, courts system, administrative centres and revenue system in the uncleared areas.

Now these terrorist outfits are in complete disarray because the war on terrorism is properly executed. Alahapperuma said Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has earlier acted with responsibility and a sense of discipline despite defeates suffered at 14 consecutive elections.

Referring to a recent newspaper report about a sale of Railway property Alahapperuma said a single inch of land belonging to the Railway or the CTB would not be sold to outsiders under his tenure as Transport Minister. Alahapperuma said Former Minister Mangala Samaraweera would return to the Cabinet soon. Let us all join hands to march forward as a strong party devoid of rancour and petty differences.