The final countdown
Indrajith de SILVA
| Sri
Lanka’s long-standing war has finally achieved what it
deserves. However no songs of victory should be sung till
the capture of the rebel leader. |
At a time when there are dramatic changes taking place in the world
economically and politically, it is prudent for a country like Sri Lanka
to be very cautious. Cost to the country in a twenty five years of fight
against a Group of Terrorists or destruction by Terrorists is
unimaginable.
Sri Lankan armed forces have got them cornered for the end game, and
it is the final count down. Make no mistakes for the victory parade
should not start until the formal surrender by the Tiger Terrorists.
Magnanimous victory
No doubt Forces will ultimately be magnanimous in victory! They also
should be very proud of their achievements as they are on the verge of
victory against the most ruthless group of terrorists in the world,
whereas the same can not be said of the fight by multinational forces in
Afghanistan against Taliban and Al Qaeda groups of terrorists.
 |
|
No doubt
Forces will achieve victory |
History tells us that in a war situation there are heroes, traitors,
spies, innocent victims and of course opportunists. Sri Lanka is a
democratic country and people have appointed the Executive President and
his Government.
They are answerable to people and it is the responsibility of the
democratically appointed opposition to keep tabs on the activities of
the Government. People in media need to understand this and conduct
themselves within those democratic parameters.
Without any hesitation I do say that no other President of Sri Lanka
has done so much like the incumbent to defeat terrorism with a view of
unifying the country and to bring peace and harmony to people.
We need to recognize this and trust him and wish him well to achieve
this for the good of the country.
He is a descendant from the group of politicians who revolutionized
the political scene in Sri Lanka during mid 50s. That was the group
comprising of the Bandaranaikes, the Rajapaksas, the Dahanayakas, the de
Silvas and so on. His inheritance gives him the political insight to
lead the country out of these troubles, which no one can dispute.
Safety and comfort
The President’s team also includes his brother, the Defence
Secretary. He is a soldier from head to toe who has shown how to
motivate the forces under his command. When his life was nearly taken by
the Tigers, he did not run away looking for safety and comfort in the
west.
Fearless he was, he strengthened his resolve to be with his Big
Brother to serve the country as his forebears would have expected. He
has proved beyond doubt that he is worthy of his name! His Alma Mater
Ananda College is a place from where many leaders started their journey
into public life.
They came out of those gates with correct values in life instilled in
them, and with strength and confidence to perform. One such brought home
the ultimate accolade in Cricket ‘The World Cup’. Sri Lanka was a proud
nation on that day! But he was not the most popular Test Cricket Captain
in the world. He was a winner who stretched laws of cricket to the very
limit. Even now, after so many years of his retirement there are writers
who criticize him in world media. Does he care? I do not think so.
He carried out his orders and he delivered. Have no qualms, the
Defence Secretary too is of the same mold! We should leave him alone to
do his job.
Some would suggest that I am jumping on the ‘Band Wagon’! This is not
the case as I have written many times in these columns previously on the
subject of Tiger Terrorists.
To heal wounds, to bring people together, and to build bridges
between communities, above is the path the post war Sri Lanka should be
focusing on! |
