Forces’ victories slap in the face of LTTE agents - Prime Minister

Uditha Kumarasinghe, Irangika Range and Sandasen Marasinghe

Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayaka yesterday told Parliament that the heroic Armed Forces are achieving historic victories in the battlefront challenging the claims made by certain LTTE friendly elements that the Armed Forces would never be able to reach key Tiger targets.

The Premier opening the Emergency debate said: “Security Forces are moving forward with determination to restore democracy in the North and bring peace and prosperity to the entire country.

“However, certain LTTE friendly elements attempted to highlight that our Armed Forces have no strength to reach and destroy key LTTE targets. Our Armed Forces are systematically reaching LTTE targets by achieving so many military victories which the country could not gain in the past. Therefore these are historic military victories achieved by our heroes.”

He said the entire nation should join hands irrespective of petty political differences by extending their fullest cooperation towards the common battle launched to ensure the freedom of the people and restore peace in the country. The people have further strengthened the hands of war heroes at the recent Provincial Council elections in Sabaragamuwa and North Central Provinces, he said.

“It is a matter for regret to note that certain elements in the South are attempting to obstruct the military victories of our Armed Forces. These elements cannot turn back our Armed Forces who are successfully moving forward with determination,” the Premier said. The Prime Minister said the Government was not ready to provide any room to allow terrorism to continue further.

The Government’s sole intention is to put a complete end to terrorism.

“Unless we fulfil this responsibility, the curse of our future generation will be on us.”

The Premier noted that the Government has launched this humanitarian mission to bring peace to the country.

In order to fulfil this objective it has to follow various strategies. The extension of emergency is also a part of those measures.

Other than that they are not seeing the support of the House for any personal gain.

“Anybody who wishes to see the dawn of peace in the country will not oppose the Emergency. The Government could take a series of good measures on behalf of the country due to extension of the Emergency. As a result of the existing emergency regulations, our Security Forces could prevent large scale terrorist activities and arrest terrorists behind the assassination of civilians,” he said.

“Those who oppose the extension of the Emergency are only opposing the curbing of terrorism. Certain elements want to rescue the terrorists from doom. Isn’t it our responsibility to strengthen the hands of our heroic Armed Forces or are we going to strengthen the hands of the terrorists?,” the Premier questioned.

“The entire nation should rally round the effort to eradicate terrorism.”

A total of 155 personnel of the three Armed Forces and Police have been killed from August 1 to September 1 while 983 have been injured due to LTTE terrorist activities. Four civilians have been killed and 52 civilians have been injured during this same period.

The support of all parliamentarians are required to safeguard the lives of the country’s youth.

The support given to extend the Emergency is a fulfilment of a national duty. At this juncture, we should all work in harmony, doing away with petty political differences,” the Premier added.