Opposition's view
A decade ago the Armed Forces of our country were not treated as
being a force against the LTTE and some of the politicians even looked
at the Armed forces as being incapable of waging war against the LTTE.
Little did they know the President had taken a decision three years
ago to finish off Prabhakaran and the LTTE. Accordingly Defence
Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and General Sarath Fonseka the Army
Commander were getting the strategy ready to defeat the LTTE in armed
conflict.
Therefore the credit must go to all of those in the Armed Forces and
the police having supported the President in this effort.
We must not forget that there were members of the United National
Party (UNP) who scoffed at the Army saying they would never be able to
finish off the LTTE.
Ranil Wickremesinghe spoke of the fighting in the jungle without much
resistance. He particularly pointed out that the Army was waging a
useless war in Thoppigala.
Ravi Karunanayake said that the Army apart from laying siege to the
LTTE in Alimankada was unable to go beyond Pamankada. Jayasekera, MP
said the Army apart from going to Elephant-pass couldn't wage war in
Grandpass. Such was a derisive attitude of the UNP.
Today of course the very same people are praising the Armed Force.
There is a saying in Sinhalese Kapanna Beri Atha Ibinawa.
We must not ever forget those hundreds and thousands who sacrified
their lives in order to celebrate this day.
This includes the hundreds and thousands of our citizens who died
from suicide bombs. Fathers and mothers have lost their sons and
daughters, wives have lost their husbands, children have lost their
fathers.
Can any of us imagine the sorrow that these people are going through?
Rivers of tears have flowed from the hearts of those who survived losing
their loved ones. Finally, I would like to mention here that people of
this country should never ever again give a single vote to the UNP.
Every such vote given would be a curse on our people.
Susil Moonesinghe Former Chief Minister - W.P.
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