New Sri Lanka A real pearl of the Indian Ocean
 

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.

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.