We have the ability to rise as one nation - Minister
Lakshmi De SILVA
It is understandable that people are overjoyed at the defeat of the
terrorist group as they had undergone immense pain of mind and suffering
over the past three decades. This reawakening should be enjoyed by
people of all groups, casting aside ethnic or religious differences and
without hurting the feelings of anyone, Mass Media and Information and
Enterprise and Investment Promotion Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa
said. “We have the ability to rise as one nation and we have the
political leadership to make our country a paradise,” he told the
Cabinet press briefing at the Ministry auditorium yesterday.
“We have closed one chapter and the next one to be opened is rapid
economic development. Any problem could be solved by discussions but
when anyone takes up arms to solve problems they are vanquished by the
gun as we have seen now,” he said.
He said the Government had its own mechanism to solve IDPs’ problems
and already a competent authority and a three-member committee had been
appointed.
“Our IDP camps are the best in the world. These people who are in the
camps were hostages of the LTTE for the past several years.
There were child soldiers who were abducted or dragged out of their
homes or schools and were given the gun forcibly and depriving them of
their childhood and education. Among the IDPs were some terrorist
cadres,” Minister Yapa said.
“The Government will provide food and other requirements to the IDPs,
INGOs and NGOs have to work with Government authorities as we are a
democratic and free country. But we had seen what some INGOs and NGOs
had done in the past like providing vehicles and other equipment to the
terrorists,” he said.
“We will also resettle all IDPs after the UN clearance of landmines
as it is a mandatory requirement which will take some time. We cannot
resettle them now,” he said.
“Many countries including China, Russia, and USA praised us for
defeating terrorism. We are now addressing the next step in the national
question. The All Party Representative Committee continues to meet to
find a solution but as the President said it will be home grown one
acceptable to all ethnic groups of the country and sustainable,” the
Minister said.
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