A-9 opening addresses humanitarian concerns

Rohan MATHES

The capture of Elephant Pass and the A-9 highway by gallant war heroes will address the main humanitarian issues which the international community was most concerned, observed Minister of Foreign Affairs Rohitha Bogollagama during a press conference at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday.

Minister Bogollagama pointed out that the international community’s main concern was the provision of humanitarian assistance by the Government to the displaced civilians in the Vanni, while fighting a fierce battle with the terrorists.

“The success at Elephant Pass, which was the nexus to Jaffna peninsula from the south, was of multi-faceted significance, mainly in the facilitation of humanitarian assistance to the displaced persons of the Vanni. who were deprived of it earlier. This could be done easily now,” Bogollagama noted.

The Minister underscored the paramount importance of fighting the terrorists on ‘zero casualties’ basis which the Government forces well achieved as a unique feature in their struggle against terrorism.

He opined that the Government forces had succeeded in transcending much pessimism and sarcasm of certain quarters, both international and local, by their professional approach and operations to achieve sustainable peace.

“We have not only achieved military success, but as the international community has remarked, we have countered terrorism with resolve,” he noted.

The civilians who are now entrapped in a 35X30 square km configuration of Mulaitivu, would soon be liberated, Minister Bogollagama added.

Fielding queries of journalists pertaining to the arrest and handing over of Velupillai Prabhakaran to India, Minister Bogollagama stated that apart from certain media reports on the issue, there has not been any such official communique from the Indian Government.

“We have no extradition treaty with India to date. We will see and pursue the matter in the context of its legal framework,” Minister Bogollagama added.

Responding to a question on the Government’s failure to apprehend the perpetrators of the heinous crimes committed from the slaying of Joseph Pararajasingham to Sunday Leader Lasantha Wickrematunge, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva was of the view that no country has apprehended all the criminals they need, due to certain constraints involved in the process.

“The Government is vehemently condemning all these crimes.

Undoubtedly, there would be an end to them, as the Government would take every available opportunity and use all means at its disposal to bring the culprits to book,” he reiterated.

Minister Prof Tissa Vitharana replying to a query concerning the APRC, said they would be meeting soon with the participation of 11 parties within the Government and two from the Opposition.

“The UNP will also be joining soon. We also expect the TNA to join us,” he said. Ministers Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Maithripala Sirisena, M.L.M. Athaullah, Keheliya Rambukwella, Champika Ranawaka, Parliamentarians Vinayagamoorthi Muralitharan and Wimal Weerawansa also expressed their sentiments on the successes achieved by our war heroes against the LTTE terrorists.