Military victory will ensure democratic rights in East - Keheliya

Ranil Wijayapala

COLOMBO: The most outstanding achievement of the Government through clearing the East is ensuring the democratic rights of the people to elect their leaders according to their wishes, Government Defence Affairs Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said yesterday.

“Ensuring the people’s right to decide who their leaders are,is the highest achievement any Government could attain”, the Minister added.

Addressing the weekly security press briefing the Minister said the Government intends to go for elections in the East to ensure the democratic rights of the people.

The Minister reiterated that everybody should be mindful not to downplay the clearing of the East for political reasons as all these were achieved by the Security Forces.

“We should be mindful when down playing the achievements in the East for political reasons”, he said.

The Minister pointed out that people in the East were quite happy about the resettlement programme which has almost been completed. Minister Rambukwella noted that certain elements were trying to down play the victories in the East claiming it had no tactical importance.

“There is no truth in this since the LTTE orchestrated all their atrocities to exert pressure on whatever the Government in power and create fear psychosis among people using the East as their base”, the Minister said.

“I don’t think Prabhakaran cares for an Eelam sans the East with its rich resources”, the Minister added.