Lanka a success story in battle against terror

Ranil Wijayapala

Sri Lanka in its battle against terrorism has set examples and its successes has given other democracies hope that terrorism can be fought and overcome, Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said yesterday.

Delivering the inaugural address at the International Conference on Countering Terrorism, at the BMICH, Bogollagama said in the long and arduous struggle against terrorism, not withstanding some impediments and setbacks, Sri Lanka can in several aspects count itself having been a success story in the battle against terrorism.

Addressing the inaugural meeting of the International Conference on Countering Terrorism, the Minister said Sri Lanka has never compromised on or condoned terrorism despite constantly upholding the idea that the present conflict in Sri Lanka must be resolved through political means. The Minister said Sri Lanka is engaged in building a consensus through the All Party Representatives Committee.

“We have come long way from the time when Sri Lanka’s pleas to the international community not to harbour terrorists, to stem money flows and to apprehend those conniving to continue to cause mayhem, in Sri Lanka, fell on deaf ears,” the Minister said.

That was the second lesson, the Minister said, Sri Lanka provides regarding the vital necessity of international cooperation in overcoming the terrorist challenge, particularly in developing countries.

“One must be conscious that in taking action against the LTTE foreign Governments are not merely helping Sri Lanka, but they are also acting in their self-interest, for it is well known that the LTTE has links to other terrorist organisations,” the Minister pointed out.

The Minister said the LTTE was having links with global terrorist organisations such as United Liberation front of Assam (ULFA), the Afghan Mujahideen, the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK), the Maoists, Abu Sayaf, Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and to the Al-Qaeda. It has the ability to contribute to copy-cat terrorism through its suicide bomb technology, acts of maritime terrorism and nascent air strike capability.

Thirdly, the Minister said, given that the chief weapon of terrorists is to terrorise the Government and the people, Sri Lanka has also shown remarkable resistance and resilience in facing up to these challenges.

“Our people have not only shown courage in the face of terror, but normality has been restored within a short period when Sri Lanka has faced crisis situations,” Minister Bogollagama added.

“These successes should give other democracies hope, that terrorism can be fought and overcome, by ensuring the sustenance of the will of our people and the support and assistance of the international community,” the Minister added.

“Also importantly, notwithstanding the difficulties we face, our socio-economic indicators remain impressive. We maintained a growth rate of 7.4% in GDP terms in 2006. Foreign direct investments in 2006 amounted to US$ 640 million, while exports increased by 8.4% to US$ 6.8883 billion. These figures too are expected to rise in the current year.”