Timely military assistance helped win war - Prime Minister

Despite the fact that we have successfully completed the task of defeating terrorism in the country, we have yet to complete the settlement of bills incurred on this gigantic military exercise, Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka said.

"If not for the timely military assistance of countries like Pakistan and China, we would have faced difficulties in completing this task. Therefore, we are ever grateful to these countries for their assistance," he said.

The Prime Minister made these observations after opening the new computer unit at Parakramabahu Kanishta Vidyalaya, Ingiriya recently. This school was the latest to receive this new IT technology under the program to equip all schools in Horana education zone funded by the business community.

"At first, certain foreign countries were hesitant to provide us with military hardware. However, the correct political leadership and the efficient armed forces brought the military victory in Sri Lanka. Our children should be taught to accept both victory and defeat. Certain people who couldn't accept defeat have entered into politics and created chaos in the country," he said.

"The loser should have the mental capacity to behave honourably while the victor should be magnanimous enough to be humble," he said.

There are several countries which have become highly advanced in technology and industrial field in the world. However, these countries have become morally degenerated today, the Prime Minister said.

"We cannot allow this to happen in Sri Lanka when we march forward in the fields. We must create a society which respects human qualities and animals. Today, several countries have realised that we have a good government which is capable of developing this country. So these countries have come forward to help us in various fields of activities here."