Masses welcome defeat of terrorism

Laskhmi de Silva

People interviewed by the Daily News on the achievement of victory over the terrorists in the North brought us many views and comments yesterday. All these people were civilians who had felt and experienced the horrors and fears of the terrorist threat to the country.

Excerpts of their comments:

Chandima Perera - Bank Executive, Pannipitiya said it was a very happy day today. We were living in fear for decades. We went to work or sent our children to school with fear not knowing whether we could return home safely. Now that the Armed Forces had defeated the terrorists, the funds spent on the war could be diverted to the economic development and social welfare of the country.

"Also this was the stepping stone to achieve national amity. We should also look after the members of the Armed Forces and their families who had sacrificed life and limb to protect our motherland".

Sudarshi Senadheera - A schoolteacher from Meegoda said when parents sent their children to school it was with the trust that the teachers would look after the children due to the situation in the country. "Now we are happy that the situation had changed with the defeat of ruthless terrorism. It was the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa that made it possible to defeat the terrorist group.

The Armed Forces acted correctly as the decisions of the leadership were also correct". "Some politicians called a 'sahodara samagama' - the company of brothers but now it had been proved that the President's brothers stood by him and helped him to defeat the terrorists. The President deserved bouquets from the people for this great achievement that would not only benefit the Sinhalese but also the Tamils and all other groups", she said.

Dr. Pumika Sumathipala - A physician in a children's hospital said, "Though the war against the terrorists was over now the real war begins with the resettlement of such a large number of people who had lost their property and belongings. The resettlement of civilians who had suffered immensely in the past should be given high priority to ensure that terrorism would not raise its ugly head again".

"There were internal and external forces who were trying to meddle with the efforts of the Government to bring back normalcy to the country.

Deepthi Lamahewa - Colombo 5 said it was a matter of great happiness that the war was over. It was something that everyone expected during the recent weeks. It was defeat of terrorism but not the defeat of anyone ethnic group.

The achievement was A clear victory achieved by the united effort of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and the commanders and members of the three Armed Forces. There were internal and international pressure brought to bear on the Government but the President was strong and took up the challenges to defeat terrorism.

Mohamed Nizam - A three wheel driver in Hunupitiya said, this was something we were expecting. "We have seen so much of bloodshed of innocent people for the past so many years. The initiative of the President had achieved victory over the terrorist group".

"All the people of the country wanted peace but it could not be done when other leaders did not give honest leadership to the Armed Forces. Now we can see that the President with the Armed Forces had achieved the goal. This was why you saw the people lighting crackers today," he said.