Military victory a combined effort

Chaminda PERERA

Military spokesmen both present and past yesterday asserted that the Security Forces’ victory over LTTE terrorism which hampered the country’s development for more than 30 years is the result of a concerted effort by the Armed Forces, Police, Civil Defence Force and the masses at large.

They said that all segments of society including the Security Forces made tremendous sacrifices and contributions to achieve that objective and it is not just an individual achievement.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s political will and Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa’s proper leadership became key factors to achieve this victory, they said.

They said that all Commanders of the Sri Lanka Army deserve the credit of making these forces more disciplined entities and it is unfair to claim it as an individual achievement.

Former Chief of Defence Staff General Sarath Fonseka received the highest rank in Sri Lanka’s military establishment.

They said the Government recognized his service by promoting him from the rank of Lt General to the rank of General just few months before and it is unfair and unethical to seek another rank which the country does not require.

According to former Army spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe, members of the Sri Lanka Army who were in the Forward Defence Line did not have confidence to meet the soaring threat by the LTTE by 2005.

He said the morale of the Armed Forces had drastically declined with the beginning of peace talks in 2005 and the LTTE terrorists were engaged in various provocative activities.

The reputation of the Sri Lanka Army had degenerated to such a low level that Army deserters and SLA members were accused of being involved in burglaries and nefarious activities, he said.

It is at this juncture, the Defence Secretary came to the fore to promote the confidence and morale among members of the Sri Lanka Army

The Defence Ministry initiated the Defence Ministry website www.defence.lk to counter the LTTE ‘s international media campaign while taking a number of measures to upgrade morale of the Army.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Commander in Chief of the Security Forces and the Police and Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa launched the Media Centre for National Security to disseminate accurate news in the war front.

Brigadier Samarasinghe said previous Governments did not divulge war related news to the public and they kept them as a secret. But this Government disseminated more accurate news to the world through the MCNS and Defence Ministry website, he said.

He said the Government led by President Mahinda Rajapaksa showed unwavering commitment and dedication to see an end to this menace by recruiting more than 80,000 personnel to the Sri Lanka Army.

Presidential directives towards wiping out terrorism from the country came from the Security Council headed by the President. These directives were implemented by the Defence hierarchy including the Defence Secretary, Chief of Defence Staff and Commanders of the Armed Forces.

Military Spokesman Udaya Nanayakkara said soldiers made great sacrifices towards the elimination of terrorism from the country .

“The Government has been implementing a number of welfare programs for war heroes and disabled soldiers’ families,” he said.

Brigadier Nanayakkara said the Government has launched unprecedented welfare programs to upgrade the welfare of Security Forces personnel and their families.

He said the Government launched a crash program to provide land to families of fallen heroes living in rented houses through Divisional Secretaries, District Secretaries and Lands Reform Commission. He said the Government’s aim is to provide shelter to more than 50,000 families of the Armed Forces and the first phase of this project was completed at Ipalogama recently.

A special home to treat disabled solders are being built at Aththidiya and the Seva Vanitha Unit of Defence Ministry provides a housing loan of Rs. 300,000 for families of fallen war heroes and disabled soldiers.

He said the Government is in the process of establishing Defence Schools in Colombo, Kandy and Kurunegala.

He said the Government led by President Rajapaksa purchased equipment and military hardware including artillery, hi tech communication equipment, weapons and ammunition for the Sri Lanka Army. He said the SLA was in need of these equipment to face the LTTE’s threat.