Fearless leader who reunited the country

Nalin Mervyn Fernando - Managing Director - Sri Lanka Ayurvedic Drugs Corporation

The war would have still dragged on if he succumbed to the pressure exerted by the Western powers, international community and their local agents. It was due to the dedicated efforts of this humanist and patriotic Statesman that terrorism which dogged on for three decades was finally defeated.

The cruel and barbaric war carried out by LTTE terrorists who had extended its writ in the North after unofficially dividing the nation ended with the killing of Prabhakaran in the Nandikadal lagoon due to the correct and fearless leadership given by President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Commander-in-Chief.

The war would have still dragged on if he succumbed to the pressure exerted by the Western powers, international community and their local agents. It was due to the dedicated efforts of this humanist and patriotic Statesman that terrorism which dogged on for three decades was finally defeated.

A leading terrorist outfit armed with most modern sophisticated equipment supported by the international diaspora cannot be defeated by the gallantry and the techniques of the Security Forces alone.

We have to admit that Mahinda Rajapaksa managed the war doing a balancing act by leading the Forces on the correct path and educating the world community and leaders about its humanitarian objective.

When little help was forthcoming from the Western world for the battle against terrorism he used his Statesmanship to win over the smaller countries to his cause.

He knew where other leaders erred in the anti-terrorist battle. After realizing that he could not properly execute the war and win by restricting himself to the confines of the President’s House and Temple Trees he himself visited the battlefield to offer encouragement to the Forces and selected trusted people to lead the war. He visited the battlefield to see that his orders were properly carried out. This line of action taken by him was the theme of the war victory.

He used his wisdom to obtain required war equipment from China and Pakistan while maintaining good neighbourly relations with India. He used his Statesmanship to see that the Western Government’s were not offended either Mahinda Rajapaksa who has a 40-year baptism in politics first entered the political arena by wining the Beliatta seat in the 1970 Parliamentary Election. He inherited that seat as a result of following in the footsteps of his father D.A. Rajapaksa.

Educated at Richmond College, Galle and Nalanda and Thurstan Colleges in Colombo, Mahinda Rajapaksa was attached to the Vidyodaya University from 1966-1970. He passed out as an attorney-at-law in 1974. He displayed his radical ideas by submitting a memorandum to the then Vice-Chancellor Ven. Pallannaruwe Wimaladharma Thera proposing a change in the university admission system. This led to a struggle and D.A. Rajapaksa had to intervene to rescue his son. It was Mahinda Rajapaksa who first set up a trade union at Vidyodaya by inviting Trade Union Leader Bala Thampoe of the VLSSP.

After four years at Vidyodaya he went to Beliatta to contest the Parliamentary Elections accompanied by a group of his revolutionary friends. I was also a member of this group. It is an irony of fate that some of these buddies are today serving in his Cabinet of Ministers.

Although Mahinda Rajapaksa was the youngest MP at that time he exuded qualities of a veteran in Parliament. His true humanism and patriotism came into the open after his defeat in 1977. Mahinda Rajapaksa had many confrontations on behalf of the people with the capitalist UNP regime proving the saying failures are the pillars of success. His legal profession was of great assistance towards his political struggles.

He took on the UNP Government in the international fora against its human rights violations. Death threats did not deter him from fighting for human rights. By the time he contested the 1994 elections he was a veteran politician and Statesman in his prime.

He gave leadership to the 1994 victory from the South and was appointed Labour and Vocational Training Minister.

Later he was appointed Fisheries Minister in which capacity he rendered an epochal service. Although people felt that he was fit for bigger responsibilities he used the portfolios given him to render maximum possible service without any frustration showing his superior qualities.

The Workers Charter he introduced as Labour Minister was a legal framework which reflected his socialist ideas. The Nautical Science Institute is another successful project which taught scientific fishing techniques to those engaged in the fishing industry. Without betraying his party he always brought programs to invigorate it irrespective of the position given to him.

He never shelved or forgot his SLFP claims because his father D. A. Rajapaksa was a founder member of the party along with Prime Minister S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike. Party activists still recall how he steadfastly stood by the party even when certain sections including Bandaranaike’s son broke away to join the UNP. That is why the people of the country including SLFP activists rejoiced when he was appointed Prime Minister. By this time he had solid claims for national leadership.

One of the reasons for his success as an astute leader is his noble quality of gratitude towards the colleagues and friends who stood by him throughout his career.

As Prime Minister he used his experience and wisdom to render a great service to the people. After rendering a great service through the Gama Neguma and Maga Neguma programs as Highways Minister he had the best claims to become the leader of the nation when he contested the Presidential election in 2005. His great political wisdom is envisaged in the Mahinda Chinthana program he unveiled.

“I will never allow any separatism to undermine Sri Lanka’s sovereignty. I will never allow anyone to destroy democracy in this country. Our civilization was built through Metta, Karuna and Muditha. Its basis was love and compassion which extended not only to man but animal and plant species and the entire earth. My intention to heal the wounds of division towards a single national goal. My objective is to build a new society which will respect communal and religious identities of all and uphold individual and social liberties without using power to harass anyone” - Mahinda Chinthana

The President who hopes to find a solution for the national problem through the program he has launched was able to end the 30 - year war not merely due to armed might but also his astuteness and proper human management. He is now busy creating an environment for displaced people to return to their normal life, thereby giving an example to the whole world about safeguarding human rights.

As a son of D. A. Rajapaksa who signed his nomination papers after washing his hands at the paddy field outlet (Wakkada). The paddy field, threshing floor and the paddy field outlet are not alien to me. I prepared during the last 40 years to attain the pleasant dream of a self reliant farmer family with its own home, two-wheel tractor and granary. I trust that I will now get the opportunity to realise that dream.”

Mahinda Rajapaksa who is now the Executive President based his political vision on the protection of human rights, equality and co-existence envisaged in the proclamation made by the 61st UN General Assembly sessions.

The statement made by him regarding terrorism at the 61st UN sessions was acclaimed by all nations.

He exhibited his statesmanship through that statement, which made the international community to abhor terrorism. He displayed his sterling leadership qualities by visiting the forces in the battlefield to encourage them.

It will take another two years for the country to reap the benefits of the mega development projects like Norochcholai, Moragahakanda, Hambantota harbour launched by his Government. It is the duty of all patriotic people to support this Government until those goals are achieved.

These projects while saving foreign exchange will create a new awakening in the people in those areas.

Mahinda Rajapaksa displays qualities of true leadership by keeping his promises by word and deed. These qualities in him is a victory for the common man who have rallied round his ‘country first’ concept. The hope and aspiration of the people is to utilize his 40-year experience for the welfare of the country.

Patriotic people have rallied round you defeating all local and foreign conspiracies because they will not get another leader of such qualities for many more years.