Govt will not halt rescue mission - PM
Chaminda Perera
The Security Forces are engaged in the evacuation of innocent Tamil
civilians being trapped by the LTTE terrorists in the No Fire Zone and
the Government will not halt this mission under any circumstances until
the civilians are fully liberated from the clutches of terrorists, Prime
Minister Ratnasiri Wickremenayake said yesterday.
The Premier was addressing an election rally at Ingiriya.
He said the international community and various international
agencies are exerting enormous pressure on the Government to go for a
ceasefire and the Government is not ready to give into to such pressure
and stop the mission to free innocent Tamil civilians from the clutches
of terrorists.
“The Government has the responsibility of rebuilding the North and
the East Provinces which were devastated by the terrorists.
“The economy and industry specially agriculture should be uplifted
for the benefit of the people who would be resettled in their original
homes soon.
He said the Government seeks public support for the development of
the North and East which were battered by the LTTE terrorist activities.
Agriculture Development Minister Hemakumara Nanayakkara said the LTTE
strengthened itself during the negotiations with the UNF Government.
“The LTTE received tremendous boost under the UNF regime.
The LTTE imported all hi tech weapons under the pretext of the Cease
Fire Agreement which was signed by UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and
Velupillai Prabhakaran without the knowledge of the Head of State.
The LTTE for the first time formed an Air wing under the UNF
Government. The Security Forces have now limited the terrorists to a
narrow stretch of land.
Urban and Sacred Area Development Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said
Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake has fulfilled the aspiration of
the people in the Horana Electorate.
He said President Mahinda Rajapaksa deserves the full credit for
freeing the country from the scourge of terrorism. “During the UNF
regime, our forces were confined to camps.”
Horana SLFP Chief Organiser Vidura Wickremanayake also spoke. |