President calls for local military research

Rohan MATHES

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday urged those engaged in scientific research to focus their attention on military research.

President Rajapaksa made this assertion when he addressed the General Convocation 2008, to confer Masters and Bachelors Degrees to the Graduands of the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, at the BMICH.

The President said there is a lack of research in the spheres of military and defense strategies by local science researchers.

The President was of the view that new policies should be formulated to accommodate military research in the school curricula as well, so that research could be undertaken on our own home-grown remedies.

Referring to the crucial issue of combating terrorism and national security, he pointed out the value of a quality training to the Armed Forces of the land, even at a formidable expenditure, especially when battling the world's most ruthless and advanced terrorist outfit, the LTTE.

Though some critics argue it is a waste of resources, the President said it is not so, as amply illustrated by the invaluable service rendered by the Armed Forces who have emerged victorious in a spree of humanitarian operations. "National Security has been our foremost priority, as it is closely linked and enmeshed with honourable peace, a pre-requsite for national development and prosperity of a nation. Having learned from the past and realised the potential and the dependence on strong 'Armed Forces', we have established this military institution and upgraded it to a university under the prevailing free education mechanism," President Rajapaksa said.

The President said as clearly illustrated in the East, no Armed Force could be sustained sans the support, co-operation and the blessings of the civilian polity. That is the reason why the Government is simultaneously developing the East, with the spree of victories achieved there by the armed forces.

"It is only when battle field victories are followed by civilian uplift and development, that the valiant soldier could feel the optimum value of their supreme sacrifice," President Rajapaksa added.