Basil to visit India

LAKSHMI DE SILVA

Senior Presidential Advisor and Parliamentarian, Basil Rajapaksa would visit India shortly as a special envoy of President Mahinda Rajapaksa for talks with the Indian authorities, Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said at a press conference in Colombo yesterday.

The Indian government had not changed its policy regarding the terrorist problem reiterating it was an internal problem of our country though the Tamil National Alliance members had visited India and tried their best to influence India.

We are very thankful to the Indian government for their laudable stance, the Minister said.

As the major power of the region India continued to strengthen peace and stability in the region by refusing to intervene in the internal affairs of our country that was waging a humanitarian war against terrorism. Though the TNA tried to use the opportunity to influence Indian authorities during the current election time, the Indian authorities did not yield to TNA’s pressure, he said.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s recent visit to Kilinochchi was a historic one as even during a ceasefire agreement the former Prime Minister could not go beyond Vavuniya to sign the ceasefire agreement with the terrorist group, the Minister noted.

The President not only visited the former terrorist administrative centre Kilinochchi but took the opportunity to thank the valiant soldiers, one by one, for the great service they had rendered to the country by defeating the terrorist group.

Some external forces had tried to influence the Government to arrive at a ceasefire with the terrorists but the Government would continue its war against terrorism.

However when India does not influence us other countries and forces could not be more concerned about our internal problem, he said.

Our Armed Forces had set an example to the whole world by demonstrating that the most ruthless terrorist group of the world that had three forces, as accepted by the international community, could be defeated by dedication. The Armed Forces not only defeated the terrorists but hosted tens of thousands of Tamil civilians who had fled from the LTTE held areas the minister said.

He said that up to 11.00 a.m. yesterday 39,042 civilians had come to the Government administered area of the North.

Though the Government had defeated the terrorist group and had given a deadline to terrorists leaders surrender, if they wished could even now give up their arms and join the democratic mainstream.

If they do so they would be allowed to go to any place they liked, the Minister said. After the attacks on Tamil civilians yesterday by the LTTE cadres including suicide bombers President Mahinda Rajapaksa showed the diplomatic corps the aerial photographs of the ruthless terrorists attack on unarmed civilians. The Government had already established welfare villages and temporary shelters to house up to 150,000 civilians.