New Sri Lanka A real pearl of the Indian Ocean
Here are
the extracts of an exclusive interview with the Chairman of
the Executive Board of the WHO, the Leader of the House,
Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva.
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What is the response of the
people in the Uva Province towards the Government’s humanitarian
operation and the development drive?
The people in the Uva Province support the Government’s humanitarian
operation and they will prove it during an election. We have done an
enormous amount of development work in the Uva Province, providing
infrastructure facilities even to the most remote villages. The economy
of the people have strengthened due to the correct national policies,
especially in the agricultural sector.
The fertilizer subsidy and the other programs launched by the
Government has strengthened the rural economy. Minor exports like pepper
draw a greater income to the villages. Paddy cultivation has become a
profitable venture and most of the neglected paddy fields have been
revitalized.
The farmers get a higher income and they are happy. When it comes to
the health and education sectors, we have developed very well and the
best student in the island came from Bandarawela.
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The Chairman of the Executive Board of
the WHO, the Leader of the House,
Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva. |
This shows the development of education standards in the Province and
I must say hospitals like Badulla, Mahiyanganaya and Diyatalawa have won
not only national recognition even the international recognition in
regard to quality and care.
Maternal mortality and infant mortality have come down drastically in
the province. We have certain challenges in the Monaragala district
which we are seriously addressing now. We will definitely win any
election in Uva Province. There is no doubt about that.
What are the elements trying to save the LTTE at this moment and to
turn back the last stage of Government’s humanitarian operation?
My perception is that no element national or international could help
the LTTE save itself. The LTTE is finished. What is going on at the
moment is a moping up operation.
The Tamil community in this country as well as the diaspora abroad
have realized the true nature of the LTTE from some of the very recent
brutal killings where the innocent civilians were shot dead.
Is that liberation of the Tamil people in this country? Even
international organizations such as the UN have now realized the true
nature of the LTTE. Now the LTTE is a desperate dyeing patient. In such
a critical condition, whoever tries to oxygen will not be able to save
the patient any more.
How is the Government going to defeat all anti-national elements?
The LTTE had a very broad network to fabricate a wrong and negative
picture of Sri Lanka and the Government for a long period of time. That
structure has not been dismantled yet. So they are making all types of
fabricated inaccurate propaganda. But now the Government has been able
to make counter propaganda and convince the International community the
true position regarding these facts.
Therefore there is no doubt about the success of the Government.
Some International agencies are still carrying out a crusade against
the humanitarian operations of the Government and support the LTTE. How
do you view it?
They will realize in another few days that they will not have even
the residue of the LTTE to support.
It will only be a daydream for them if they think that the LTTE will
emerge once again.
The Government will ensure that we will embrace the Tamil community
in the North and East in such a manner that their love and affection
will be totally with us, the Government and not with the LTTE.
How do you see the activities of the Opposition at the moment and
What should be the role of the Opposition at this juncture?
The role of the opposition should be supporting the government to
eradicate terrorism, not only by word of mouth, but also by their active
participation in the process, sincerely extending their support.
But when our valiant soldiers took over Kilinochchi, the Leader of
the Opposition wanted petrol price to be reduced. So he equated price of
petrol to the victory of Killinochchi.
This is not true statesmanship. The Opposition has no statesman
leader. The leader is looking to come to power even at the cost of a
national disaster. So it is very pathetic to speak about the Opposition.
The Opposition has not understood the heartbeat of the people of this
country and their aspirations. That is why the Opposition has been
isolated, weakened and rejected by the people.
What are Government plans for future Sri Lanka, especially for the
North which will be free of LTTE terrorism?
Sri Lanka will become an excellent model in the world for defeating
terrorism. Now we have several challenges ahead.
One is to uplift the economic prospects of the people of our country
despite the world economic crisis by strengthening the national economy
and adopting correct policies and utilizing the resources in the most
effective manner. We are confident that we can build a new Sri Lanka
which would really become the pearl of the Indian Ocean. |