Eradicating terrorism only way to protect democracy - President

Rohan Mathes and Raja Waidayasekera Tissamaharama Special Correspondent

President Mahinda Rajapaksa categorically stated that democracy could only be protected by totally eradicating terrorism and ensuring peace and prosperity in the land, following the liberation of the North, which is not too far away.

Addressing an inauguration ceremony of a Vocational Training Centre in Tangalle yesterday, President Rajapaksa pointed out that despite being fully aware of the fact that a proportion of the consignment was being diverted to the LTTE, the Sri Lankan Government was consistently providing humanitarian assistance, food and other essential items, sans any deficiency, to the people of Killinochchi and Mulaitivu.

The inauguration of the said Vocational Training Centre, was as envisioned in the Mahinda Chintanaya, a part of an integrated and islandwide programme of the Vocational Training Authority, to further protect and consolidate the educational rights of children, in the unfortunate backdrop where children were provided guns by Prabhakaran, instead of books.

"Regardless of all the odds and the opposition confronted, we are the only Government ever, which is feeding, nursing, educating and providing all necessities to a terrorist outfit, while simultaneously fighting them. Nevertheless, being a responsible Government which is duty-bound to provide all necessities to its people, should ensure that no single citizen of this land should starve, he said.

"Nevertheless, he said that his Government was undoubtedly committed and sought a negotiated political solution to the conflict. He reached out to them and urged them to lay down their arms and resume negotiations, sans seeking to fragment and disintegrate our motherland".

"We have a clear-cut road-map, a vision and a mission to accomplish, as amply demonstrated by our actions in the East. There is no value in agreements which are not implemented. We are in no way striving to capture another country or destroy another community.

"We are only geared to liberate and free our country from terrorism. Nonetheless, we are all-out for a negotiated political solution, for which assistance is sought from the local as well as the international community," President Rajapaksa added.

President Rajapaksa charged that the terrorists were using the innocent civilians as a human shield to achieve their fascist political gains. The Armed Forces however, were a well-trained and disciplined lot.

They had continuously exercised utmost caution in their exercises, and in no way caused any harm to the civilians.

He also lauded and thanked the Southern civilian polity, including the working class, for their sustained patience and tolerance, in the wake of the atrocities caused by the terrorists.

He categorically stated that terrorists are terrorists irrespective of their location, be it in India, Pakistan or Sri Lanka. There are no good terrorists and bad terrorists, he added.

Minister of Vocational Training Piyasena Gamage, US Envoy in Sri Lanka Robert Blake also addressed the ceremony. Ministers Chamal Rajapaksa, Mahinda Amaraweera, Provincial Councillor V.K. Indika , other representatives of the Southern Provincial Council and officials of the Vocational Training Ministry, also participated.