President writes to IDP families
President Mahinda Rajapaksa in an emotional letter written in Tamil
to each family of the internally displaced persons who were resettled in
their original dwellings yesterday, wished them every success and the
choices blessings for the future “with your dreams of success coming
true when we can all live together as members of a single family in our
motherland”.
The President’s letter in Tamil states:
“I write to you at an important time when you are on the threshold of
a new beginning in life. You are today being moved to the familiar
surroundings of your former home, or very close to it. I am aware that
the sufferings your family have undergone are many, and for very long
too. These hardships were imposed on you and all other Tamil citizens
who have suffered alike, by a ruthless organization that was committed
to terror to achieve its narrow objectives, for which the Tamil people
were made unwilling pawns.
They claimed to be the liberators of the noble Tamil community. As
their strategies began to fail, you were herded from place to place, and
denied the food, medicine and other essentials that were sent for you.
Your children, and even the elders among you, were compelled to carry
arms for these forces of terror.
I fully understand that this was not the aspiration of the Tamil
people of our country. Finally, you were made displaced persons in your
own motherland, after holding you as human shields and hostages for the
safety of those who shed so much blood of your own people. Your
innocence in all this is recognized today.
That period of immense tragedy is now over, as are the temporary
hardships you faced as internally displaced persons. You are moving on
to a new life, in the company of family and friends. You will find new
and welcome challenges of the future. My Government has done much to
make your new life most acceptable to you, providing the needs for a
quality of life to enhance your dignity as a person.
The most cherished asset you have today are your children, who you
have sheltered as best as you could. This is the time to ensure that
your children are guided by you to benefit from the new facilities that
are being provided for them and ensure that they are never again allowed
to be misled by false prophets or saviours. Together you can build a new
life and look to benefit from the many opportunities that will be
available in the tranquillity of peace and friendship.
I wish you and your family every success and the choicest blessings
for the future, with your dreams of success coming true, when we can all
live together as members of a single family in our Motherland”. |