I am overwhelmed at the victory of our brave men and women in the
Armed Forces. I congratulate our Comanders of the Forces.
I go on my hands and knees to worship them, for saving our country
and all human beings who live there. I thank our President and his
Government for supporting this war against terrorisom.
We must also never ever forget our fallen soldiers, we should do
every possible thing to help their famillies. Please do not hesitate to
tell how I can contribute towards this. It will be greatly appreciated.
Lalith Fernando
I would like to share a few thoughts;
The development program in the post war nation-rebuilding drive
should also, on a priority basis, include the following;
Build a house for each poor family that lost a son or a husband while
serving in the Army, Navy, Air Force and Police,
Build a house for each disabled soldier/any other serviceman who had
been involved in this war during the past 26 years.
Further, while all sorts of events are being organised to celebrate
this victory, it is proper and appropriate to show gratitude to the
fallen heroes.
The different SLA divisions, bases of SLAF, Navy and Police that have
been involved in the war to organise a Pirith and a Dana (offering of
alms) and bestow merit on the dead war heroes.
The poor families of those war heroes may not even have the means to
do it themselves, with their breadwinners gone down with the war.
Yanishy Jay - Switzerland
Now that the terrible war seems to have come to its inevitable end,
it is a time for all Sri Lankans to reflect on some of the invaluable
lessons the nation can learn from this tragic episode. I'd like to point
to two of them.
First and foremost we need a Sri Lankan identity without references
to ethnic background, mothertongue and religion. Is Muralitharan any
more a Sri Lankan than a tea plucker in Hatton or a Muslim trader in
Galle?
The second lesson is that it is high time we shed our colonial
shackles and servitude to any fair skinned foreigners and hold our head
high as proud Sri Lankans - so far the only nation to defeat terrorism.
Let us not forget the doublespeak of leaders from Norway, UK, and
France who treated Sri Lanka almost as a pariah state and defended the
bad guys, to gain votes and political contributions from the Tamil
diaspora.
Dr. Sarath Joshua - Arizona, USA
It is imperative for the well-being of Sri Lanka that these expats,
especially the doctors, engineers, architects etc. return. However, many
of them had gained citizenship rights and will be reluctant to give that
up.
The President should sweeten the pill by offering dual citizenship
free of the exhorbitant fees, at least for a year and review it annually
with the number of people returning.
Shaik Anwar Ahamath - via email
I'm sure that my President is trying to work out some kind of plan
for the victorious peoples of Sri Lanka, he's just very busy with the
current load of work on his desk. I didn't vote for him, but I'm willing
to bet that this approach he has taken has been one designed to minimize
the media fallout he'd have to deal with the questions about the Sri
Lankan Army's role in the deaths of innocent civilians in the No-Fire
Zones.
Any thinking individual knows that there are always going to be some
collateral damage, generally about 30 percent of the casualties in war
are civilians.
Knowing the mindset of most Sri Lankans, I believe that the Army did
all in their power to minimize those casualties. However, there was a
war to be won and sometimes you just can't protect everyone, especially
when the other side puts them on the front lines to protect themselves.
This President (Obama) doesn't have his power base established well
enough yet to project any foreign policy agenda's that would weaken him
at home.
He's a good man, he'll do the right thing and to expect more from him
after only four months in office is a bit ambitious and pushy. Give him
a chance to learn more about the situation in Sri Lanka, he may yet
surprise you.
Barry W. Harris - U.S.A.
Let us congratulate the Security Forces for defeating the LTTE, which
many of us thought was invincible. Whilst rejoicing over the victory,
though Pyrrhic but commendable, we should now think of, inter alia,
helping the orphans, who have become so, because of the war.
Let me present what the Quran says regarding the orphans, which I
think will be an eye-opener for all of us.
Those who care for the orphans will obtain the highest rank of
paradise along with Prophets and Messengers, as Allah says, "Whoso
obeyeth Allah and the messenger, they are with those unto whom Allah
hath shown favour, of the Prophets and the saints and the martyrs and
the righteous. The best of company are they"
"Therefore, treat not the orphan with oppression. And repulse not the
beggar."
"Seest thou one who denies the Judgment (to come)? Then such is the
(man) who repulses the orphan (with harshness), and encourages not the
feeding of the indigent."
"And serve Allah. Ascribe nothing as partner unto Him. (Show)
kindness unto parents and unto near kindred and orphans and the needy."
"Those who unjustly consume the property of orphans consume a fire,
putting it into their own bodies; they will soon be enduring a blazing
fire!"
"And come not nigh to the orphan's property, except to improve it,
until he attain the age of full strength."
I also would like to present what the Prophet (Sal) said regarding
the caring of orphans, for us to ponder on and act upon.
Prophet (Sal) said, "I will be like this in Paradise with the person
who takes care of an orphan". He raised his forefinger and middle finger
by way of illustration.
He also said, "If someone strokes the head of an orphan for the sake
of Allah, they will receive blessings for every hair that they touch."
It is reported that Prophet (Sal) has said "The most blessed home is
the one in which an orphan is cared for. The worst home is that in which
an orphan is treated badly."
Prophet (Sal) desired that great care be given to protecting the
property of an orphan. "O Lord! I am wary of those who abuse the rights
of two weak types of people, the orphan and women.
Once, a man came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)
complaining about his harsh heart. The Prophet addressed the man saying,
"Do you want something that makes your heart lenient and your needs
fulfilled?
Be merciful to the orphans, touch their hair gently, and feed them
from your own food. If you do these things, I guarantee that your heart
will become soft, and your needs will be fulfilled."
So, let us strive in whatever way we can to help the orphans.
Mohamed Zahran - Colombo 3
Here lies a man who dedicated himself for 35 years to see that every
living Sri Lankan Tamil died for his cause of barbarism misnamed 'eelam'.
Fortunately he failed as except for his blood thirsty gang no one
else was willing to perish with him although his supporters made a din
of a racket in the West and in Chennai to make up for their reluctance
to come to his aid.
While press ganged Tamils perished in entire families, his daughter
lived happily everafter with Diaspora money in the West.
The exodus of Tamils was away from their homes in the Vanni and from
the fascist regime of the self styled sole leader of the Tamils who
murdered many of them while escaping. He was a local edition of Cyclops.
He was the only terrorist leader who hid behind women, children and
old folks and reinforced his bunkers with their flesh and bones to hide
from death.
He was responsible for the deaths of almost all young Tamils in the
Vanni.
He and his gang murdered over 50,000 Sinhalese and Muslims and those
Tamils who did not agree with him.
His women cadres cut up Sinhalese babies with fish knives, the last
being in Moneragala in March 2009.
He was responsible for the murder of Rajiv Gandhi a former PM of
India and many political leaders of Sri Lanka.
When his time came the cyanide capsule he forced on others was
missing.
Lalin Fernando - Dehiwala
Hail thee, Mother Lanka!
Hail thee, the Honourable President
Of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapaksa!
Hail thee, all Security Forces!
From the highest rank to the lowest,
On air, sea and land
For your great dedication
In skies, seas, jungles and rivers
In sending that separatist leader
That two-legged beast
That blood-thirsty beast
To his bloody grave,
And saving unitary Sri Lanka
Our native land, our beloved Motherland
For all communities to live together
Under one banner!
Volumes can be written
About the countless brutal murders
Done by this 'heartless' beast - Prabhakaran,
My lost brother and Major nephew
Ever bring tears to my eyes!
After February 4, 1948
Comes this historical day
May 18, 2009
which should be written in gold
In the history of Sri Lanka!
My tribute to all Security Forces
And civilians too, who laid their lives
All these thirty years
Not for their own benefit
But for the future generations!
I have no words to express
My gratitude and sincere thanks
To all who contributed
To this historical victory,
May they live long!
My hearty cheers for all of them!
Peace doves are flying
Over Sri Lankan skies,
May peace and unity dawn
On our beloved Motherland!
Malini Hettige
While reading through a few documents in my possession I came across
a news clipping from Daily News dated June 30, 1987. The news item was
based on an interview the late Lalith Athulamudali the then National
Security Minister had with the German newspaper 'Die Welt' (The World).
In reply to a question about possible Indian invasion Lalith has
stated Sri Lanka would use Gandhian tactics to face it.
To a question about India's possible continued mediation in the
ethnic problem he said a mediator should not only appear to be fair but
should also be fair.
Many Tamil speaking people who have been living in LTTE-controlled
areas tell us terrible stories. About two weeks ago in the Vadamarachchi
operation, when the LTTE was fleeing, they gave little children hand
grenades and asked them to throw the grenades at the army.
Then if the army fired back, they would have been able to tell the
world the army butchered young children. But fortunately for us, the
elders took over and gave the grenades to our soldiers when they
arrived.
It has to be mentioned here that there had been a cold war against
Lalith in the then Cabinet. As a result he was not given due recognition
as the Minister of National Security and Deputy Minister of Defence when
President J. R. Jayewardene halted Vadhamarachchi operation and peace
accord was signed with India.
A. Godwin de Alwis Dehiwala
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