LTTE terrorism was eradicated by righteous principles - Environment Minister

Chamikara WEERASINGHE

LTTE terrorism was brought to an end by means of righteous and upright principles. This is the secret of President Mahinda Rajapaksa's victory over terrorism, said Environment and Natural Resources Minister Champika Ranawaka yesterday.

The President not only sealed the fate of terrorism, but also paved the way for the dawning of a new era of independence and sovereignty ending the era which some leaders of the country have been "going on bended knees" before foreign ambassadors, he said.

President Rajapaksa fulfilled the mandate given to him by the people of this country to preserve the country's sovereignty.

The President said that he has fulfilled the people's mandate when he celebrated Sinhala and Hindu New Year from Killinochchi, Ranawaka said.

"If America aspires to win the war against terrorism, they too must maintain uprightness and righteousness in their policy against terrorism.

There is no way that any country in the world can defeat terrorism by means of double standards.

There will be no winning the war against global terrorism if one demands action to defeat Osama Bin Laden and acts to protect Prabhakaran at the same time.

Britain has allowed LTTE supporters to stage protest marches in their country against the Government of Sri Lanka," he said.

"Would they have done this to other countries?" The Minister asked.

"It was the Western countries that have tried to protect Prabhakaran all along the way. Countries like China, Vietnam and Russia among others have given us their hand as friendly neighbours to inflict defeat on the terrorists," he added.