Separatist forces still active

Indika POLKOTUWA

Although terrorism had been militarily defeated, local and foreign separatist forces have still not stopped their activites, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said.

“As such every vote cast by the people at the April 8 election will be most valuable to totally defeat separatism,” he said. The Defence Secretary said so at a seminar held at Teldeniya town to educate the masses recently. He said the people should act intelligently at the forthcoming election since militarily defeated elements who failed to achive their sinister objectives at the Presidential Election would try to achieve their aims at the General Election. Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said the convincing victory gained by President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Presidential Election had ensured a good future for the nation.

He said the lack of a clear majority in Parliament after the 2005 General Election compelled the President to invite the Opposition MPs to join hands with the government to ensure Parliamentary stability.

A group of patriotic MPs who understood the national problem clearly responded positively and joined hands with the President and the President’s government.

The significance of this move can be seen when one reminized the situation which prevailed in the country in 2007 and 2008, he said.

Rajapaksa said the TNA still spoke about the homeland concept, federalism and police powers and sowing the seeds of communalism and separation changing the constitution was a must to eliminate the germ of communalism and separation.

The President needs a strong Parliament, he said. The Defence Secretary said the Government faced many obstacles in its fight against terrorism during the last four years. One of the challenges it faced was to counter the unfounded critism and pressure exerted by certain sections of the media which tried to tarnish the government’s image abroad, he said.

Minister Keheliya Rambukwella had been a tower of strength to the Government in successfully overcoming this challenge, Rajapaksa said.

He said Rambukwella is an efficient Minister whose services are needed not only for Kandy district but the country as a whole.

Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Minister and Kandy District UPFA candidate Keheliya Rambukwella, Presidential Advisor J.R.P. Suriyapperuma and several others also spoke.