President questions unfair expectations of big countries

Chaminda PERERA

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday said that some powerful countries expect small countries to do what they themselves cannot do.

The powerful countries grill prominent figures on their entry to such countries for hours for the safety of these countries while demanding us to take out the people in welfare camps and resettle them in their original places soon, he said. He was addressing a ceremony held at the Panduwasnuwara Rajamahaviharaya yesterday.

The Maha Sangha and the people in the North Western Province yesterday felicitated the President, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Chief of Defence Staff General Sarath Fonseka and former service commanders who played the pioneering role to liberate the country from the LTTE.

Chief Adhikarana Sanganayake Thera of the Wayamba province Ven. Rekawa Jinarathna Nayake Thera presented a special Sannaspatraya to the President in recognition of his service to the Motherland. Small Industries Development Minister S.B. Nawinna presented a memento to President Rajapaksa on behalf of the people in the province.

President Rajapaksa stressed that he is not as inhuman to resettle the displaced people in their original places before the landmines are cleared.

“Some elements demand us to take them out of welfare camps and resettle in their original places. But the entire area is dotted with anti-personnel mines and landmines.”

“It is unfair to expect what they cannot do, from small countries like us.

They should recognise the security concerns,” he said.

“The members of the Security Forces who made immense sacrifices on behalf of the country have now been tasked to prepare the ground for the resettlement of civilians displaced by the LTTE. They have actively been involved in the country’s development drive. They make their contribution to promote the infrastructure in the war-torn area,” he said.

The Security Forces gave their meals to the people who were fleeing from the terrorists. They secured the lives of LTTE leader’s parents and wife of the LTTE political section head.

President Rajapaksa stressed that the members of the Security Forces showed compassion and sympathy to these people who suffered untold hardship under the clutches of terrorists.

He said the Opposition has deviated from its reponsibility of making the people’s aspiration a reality. “The Opposition is hatching various conspiracies against the country.”

He said the Opposition is engaged in a dirty game of persuading foreign governments not to extend assistance to Sri Lanka. “I will not be affected by this dastardly acts but the people of this country.”

Some elements are trying to charge the Security Forces who liberated the country from terrorism of committing war crimes.

He said the Government has given special attention to the war heroes. “We will not forget the commitment and dedication showed by the Security Forces on the battle front,” he said.

He said the Government is duty bound to ensure the welfare and well being of the families of war heroes.

Over 2,500 members of the Security Forces personnel became disabled due to the war on terrorism. Another 4,000 members made their supreme sacrifice for their Motherland in the North Western Province, he said.