We are now a proud nation free of terrorism - Minister Ranawaka

Chamikara Weerasinghe

The Sinhalese, Muslims and Tamils who had been forced out of their homes in the North and East by racist elements, can now enjoy their inherent rights to settle in their homeland in the North, Environment and Natural Resources Minister Champika Ranawaka said on Friday at the BMICH, Colombo after launching his book titled “Charge of the Lion Brigade.”

The book outlines how the Sri Lankan Armed Forces vanquished LTTE terrorism. Present at the book launch were Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, former Chief of Defence Staff Vice Marshal Donald Perera, Chief of Defence Staff General Sarath Fonseka, Ex Navy Commander Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda, Air Force Commander Air Chief Marshal Roshan Gunatilleke, Civil Defence Director Sarath Weerasekera and Inspector General of Police Jayantha Wickemaratne.

Thanking the Chiefs and the members of the Armed Forces, Minister Ranawaka said, over 150,000 Sinhalese were chased away from their homelands in the North and East by racists in 1981. “There were 21,000 Sinhalese living in the Jaffna district in 1981. Not a single Sinhalese were spared,” he said and added,” These people have been living in the country as displaced persons for the past 25 years although Suresh Premachandran and Sampanthan are now talking about Sihalaization.”

“Velupillai Prabhakaran chased away Muslims from the North in 1991. They have been living in Kalpitiya for 18 years. They too have an inherent right to resettle in their homeland in the North,” the Minister said.

“When we were drafting the 2005 Presidential manifesto ‘Mahinda Chinthana’ we knew that we could not totally spell our dream of liberating the country from the clutches of the Neo Nazi LTTE terrorists, he said. But as the then Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa stated, ”the fundamental platform I would base my initiative would be an undivided country, a national consensus and honourable peace.” He also stated the agenda should also include renouncing separatism, demilitarization and entering into a democratic process, he said.

Minister Ranawaka said, “now we are a proud nation and our children can go all over the country with their heads held high.Ten years ago we had a dream.”

“This was a dream that was deeply rooted in all Sri Lankans. The dream has come true. Finally we are free,” he added.