Govt will establish democracy by defeating terrorism - Media and Information Minister

Uditha Kumarasinghe, Irangika Range and Sandasen Marasinghe

kotte: Media and Information Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said in Parliament that the Government's aim is to create a democratic environment where people of all communities could live in peace, by defeating terrorism.

The Minister said the Government is dedicated to establish a democratic culture. For this purpose, we held free and fair elections. "We don't need to set up a dictatorial Government," the Minister said. The Minister made these observations in response to the speech made by MP Mangala Samaraweera who condemned the Government mechanism to eradicate terrorism.

The Minister also stated that Samaraweera's opinion on terrorism has changed now. The essence of his speech was that it would not matter to give an Eelam to a certain extent which was not his vision when he was in the Government.

From the outset, the Government's stance was to eradicate terrorism.

Countries such as the USA agree that terrorism should be countered.

"During the last three years the Forces have proved under the supervision of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa that they can go forward without harming the innocent civilians," the Minister said. The Security Forces have launched a comprehensive mechanism to save Colombo and the South from the LTTE and the Government is dedicated to ensure democracy in the country.

The Minister said the civil administration was established in the Eastern Province after holding a free and fair election. The entire world admits the terrorism should be countered. Even our neighbouring India is affected by terrorism. We are not defeating the terrorism for popularity.

We are trying to ensure democracy in the country.

JVP MP K.D. Lal Kantha said MP Samaraweera was trying to stop the Forces action against the terrorists. He said attempts were being made to stop the Forces' advance by certain parties with vested interests.