Prime Minister tells Parliament:

Our Forces second to none

Uditha Kumarasinghe Irangika Range and Sandasen Marasinghe

Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayaka told Parliament yesterday the valiant Armed Forces through the capture of the LTTE’s military hub Kilinochchi have demonstrated to the entire world that their capabilities are not second to any military force in the world.

The Premier commencing the Emergency debate said the great victory attained by our Security Forces has given a good response to the LTTE terrorists.

“Various LTTE friendly elements attempted to portray to the world that it was not an easy task for our Armed Forces to liberate Kilinochchi,” the Premier said. “As the Government we pay our tribute to the Army Commander, all the senior officers and the members of the three Armed Forces who made the supreme sacrifice in the liberation of Kilinochchi which was considered as the administrative and military hub of the LTTE,” he said.

The Premier said with the dawn of the New Year, we have to traditionally seek the support of the House to extend the Emergency regulations.

“Our intention is not to make this request from the House again and again in future. The Government has entered into the final phase of eradicating terrorism. In order to create the necessary environment conducive to defeat terrorism, there is an urgent need to extend the Emergency regulations.

“Even at this final stage, terrorists are pretending to show their strength. But the entire world has understood that terrorists do not possess such strength as they claimed. We all should be united to defeat the objectives of the terrorists irrespective of any political differences.

“I have to say with regret that certain elements are acting in an irresponsible manner. But their activities are not a secret to the people. These LTTE friendly elements have implemented their project under various fronts. There was a period where certain elements were forced to suspend the ongoing military operations in the North.

They even sought the assistance of the international community to stop these military operations,” he said. These elements remained silence when the innocent civilians were brutally killed by the LTTE. The latest project of these elements is to compel the LTTE to engage in various atrocities which may cause serious impact on the country’s economy.

They are attempting to disrupt the income generating avenues of the Government. But most of the people are well aware on these conspiracies,” the Premier said. “It is fortunate to have people who are patriotic. Due to our misfortune, we have been unable to rally round all of our political parties under one wing. Sometimes, the people are well ahead than certain politicians.”

The Prime Minister said it was Prabhakaran who destroyed the unity among communities by creating an uncertainty. “Therefore, Prabhakaran should pay a fair compensation for this. Steps should be taken to prevent all avenues which help the LTTE to strengthen themselves.”

“There is a need of a common power to boost the morale of our valiant soldiers who are now entering into the LTTE battlement by making the supreme sacrifice. But certain elements attempt to belittle the heroic military victories achieved by our Security Forces. As a Government, we are ready to face these challenges. We request everybody to rally round the Government to defeated terrorism,” the Prime Minister said.