During counter-terrorism operations:

Security Forces protected civilian lives

In conducting military operations to eliminate terrorism, the Government’s primary concern was to safeguard the innocent civilians, many of whom had experienced multiple displacements over the years, and had their children forcibly conscripted by the LTTE to be used as cannon fodder.

Many of them had lost one or more of their family members. Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama made these observations, while addressing the final day session of the 8th Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore yesterday.

The Shangri-La Dialogue, since its inaugural meeting in 2002, has become an integral part of the architecture of Asian defence diplomacy and is recognised as the region’s premier and most inclusive security institution.

This is the 3rd occasion that Sri Lanka has been invited to participate in this high profile defence and security diplomacy forum, attended by 18 other nations in the Asian region, as well as the US, Russia, UK, France, Germany, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

In a wide ranging speech on the theme, “Winning Counter Insurgency Campaigns - A Sri Lankan Perspective”, the Minister dealt with three broad aspects, namely, the LTTE reign of terror, rescuing civilians by launching a humanitarian mission and lastly the way forward- reconciliation and the political process. He announced to the audience, the end of LTTE terror in Sri Lanka, barely a week ago.

The Foreign Minister attributed the astonishing success of the campaign to eradicate terrorism to President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who has provided effective and decisive leadership to the military establishment in his capacity as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

The Minister noted that Sri Lanka will no doubt enter the annals of history as a classic textbook example of a nation that successfully prevailed over the scourge of terrorism, while tenaciously upholding the cherished values of democracy and human rights that have been deeply ingrained in the psyche of her people.

Armchair critics and skeptics who doubted the firm resolve and strength of our brave armed forces to defeat the so-called ‘invincible’ might of the LTTE have been effectively silenced today, just as much as the guns.