Tiger terror’s end imminent

President Mahinda Rajapaksa said on Thursday that Sri Lankan Security Forces will be able to wipe out LTTE terrorists now restricted to a small stretch of land in Mullaitivu and rescue the balance civilians held under their clutches within the next 48 hours.

He said this when he addressed the Sri Lankan expatriate worker community attached to the Casual Wear Garment Factory in Jordan’s industrial zone during his visit to Jordan.

The President who appreciated the contribution made by Sri Lankan expatriate workers in the Middle-East including Jordan to the country’s coffers recalled that he had occasion to solve many of their problems and cater to their welfare when he held the Labour Portfolio from 1994 to 2000.

At a time when the efforts of the world economic crisis were being felt by most countries the Sri Lankan economy had been able to hold its own to a certain extent partly due to the remittances made by expatriate workers abroad.

Explaining the current situation in the country to the Sri Lankan workers which the President said they would be eager to know, Rajapaksa said the LTTE did not allow him even to enjoy the victory of the 2005 Presidential election as they killed several unarmed soldiers. In spite of such provocations the Government tried its best to solve the national problem peacefully through negotiations.

Discussions were held in Geneva and Oslo but the LTTE disrupted them by leaving the negotiation table. The President said thereafter the LTTE tried to disrupt the livelihood and economy of the Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim farmer families in the East by closing the Mavil Aru anicut.

The Government launched the humanitarian operations to liberate the anicut and restored the irrigation facilities. When the LTTE expelled Muslims from Muttur, the Government was able to re-settle them in their areas with all facilities within 40 days.

Thereafter the humanitarian operations were continued to fully liberate the East and restore democracy there by holding the Provincial Council elections in the East.

The Government after assuming office had abrogated all agreements favourable to LTTE separatist terrorists including Ranil Wickremesinghe’s infamous CFA which aimed to hand over the administration of the North and East to the LTTE.

Even now Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe was visiting Europe and engaging in activities allegedly harmful to Sri Lanka’s national interest.

The President said the honour and gratitude of the whole nation was due to the heroic Security Forces and Police for achieving victories over the LTTE restricting to a very small stretch in Mullaitivu.

The guidance and leadership given by the three forces chiefs, the IGP and the Defence Secretary who had all shown a high degree of efficiency had made these victories possible.

The President said after the liberation of the East, the Government had spent over Rs. 1 billion last year for development activities in the province.

All infrastructure in the Province would be developed under this program. It is hoped to build 372 bridges in the Eastern Province.

President Rajapaksa said the Government while engaged in a costly humanitarian operation had not neglected national development activities.

Massive development projects had been launched concurrently with the humanitarian operations to liberate the country from LTTE terrorism.

These included the development of the Colombo and Galle Ports, building the Oluvil, Jaffna and Kankesanturai ports and an international airport at Hambantota. Strengthening of the power sector had also been undertaken with the launching of work on the Norochcholai and Upper Kotmale electricity schemes.

The Kerawalapitiya power station had been completed using indigenous funds and technological knowhow. The Government had been able to reduce unemployment to five percent of the population.

President Rajapaksa said so far nearly 200,000 innocent civilians had escaped LTTE clutches and arrived in Government controlled areas in the North.

The Government had given top priority towards providing lodging food, water, sanitary and all other necessary welfare facilities.

Now the Government has started re-settling these civilians in their original habitats. The first batch of civilians were re-settled in Silavatura recently.

The facilities provided to IDPs in Sri Lanka were of a higher quality when compared to facilities in certain other countries. The next step would be to find a political solution to the ethnic problem without disintegrating the country.

The President said Sri Lankan expatriate workers abroad were like unofficial ambassadors. It was their bounden duty to safeguard Sri Lanka’s image in all their activities.