Victory over terrorism

New strength to democracy and good foreign relations:

The first anniversary of Victory Day was of special significance for Sri Lanka for an abundance of good results that the defeat of terrorism had brought to the country. President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing the Victory Day celebrations at Galle Face had the highest words of praise for the troops who brought about this victory and paid the nation’s tribute to those who brought freedom back to the country and nation.

He also did not forget the efforts made by forces, both in Sri Lanka and abroad, to belittle this victory or humiliate the troops that achieved it, not yet prepared to accept the defeat of LTTE terror and others working in alliance with them for purposes of an internal political agenda based on vengeance and hatred, repeatedly rejected by the people.

President Rajapaksa made a clear statement yesterday. “The conditions once laid holding this country to ransom with the threat of terrorism are not valid anymore. There is a government today that is ready to make any sacrifice to safeguard the freedom of this country. We are not ready to accept aid under conditions that will betray the freedom of our land and people. We must be ready to end the era of dependence on aid,” he said.

While the National flag fluttered throughout the land, the IDPs were fast returning to their villages, democracy was re-asserting itself and development was being taken to all parts of the country.

Propitious

It was a propitious coincidence that President Mahinda Rajapaksa hosted Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang to breakfast the morning after his return from the most successful visit by a Head of State from Sri Lanka to India.

If the Victory Day Parade and other celebrations this weekend mark the defeat of terrorism, the events of the last two weeks showed the progress Sri Lanka had made in foreign relations in recent months.

If the recent success story of Sri Lanka’s foreign relations opened with the meeting between US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and External Affairs Minister Prof GL Peiris two weeks earlier, it was brought into greater focus this week, with the visit of two key advisors to President Barak Obama’s who declared the US abhorrence of the LTTE’s terror and stated President Obama’s own admiration of President Rajapaksa’s defeat of the LTTE, conveyed by the representatives of the NSC - Samantha Power, Special Assistant to the US President and Senior Director for Multi-lateral Affairs and Human Rights and David Pressman, Director for War Crimes, Atrocities and Civilian Protection.

New spirit

Their visit brought Sri Lanka and the USA much closer. There is now much opportunity for the US to be involved in many aspects of Sri Lanka’s development, especially in infrastructure and economic activity in the North and East.

Then came Special Peace Envoy for Sri Lanka Yasushi Akashi. Once again the message of friendship was very strong. He underlined that it was Japan’s view that Sri Lanka should not be dictated to on reconciliation, and be allowed to carry out this task in the way it knew and believed best.

He also stated there should be no attempts to reopen old wounds, when the healing process was best for reconciliation. He also assured Sri Lanka of a special package of assistance of 39 billion Yen (USD 426.4 m) for economic and social-development both in the North and South, with emphasis on IDP resettlement.

Special relationship

There was a huge success closer home, in relations with India, for which President Rajapaksa is entitled to all the kudos.

The very fact that last week’s visit was the second State Visit by the President to India, and the first bi-lateral visit to any country since his huge re-election and the sweeping success of the UPFA in Parliamentary polls, was sign enough of the special relationship between India and Sri Lanka.

The reception the President received, where he was met by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and almost all key Cabinet Ministers of the Government, the unquestioned Leader of the Congress Party Sonia Gandhi, as well as Opposition Leader Sushima Swaraj from the BJP, was a measure of the good relations that exist between the two countries.

It is significant that Opposition Leader Sushima Swaraj stated that the BJP Opposition will not deviate from the Foreign Policy of the Congress led Government in New Delhi, especially on Indo-Sri Lanka relations.

There was an abundance of proof, and the very tangible nature of the good relations are the agreements that were signed, which amounted to a total of USD 1,250 billion of assistance for Sri Lanka for a large number of key development projects.

The assistance ranges for projects such as US$ 800m for three railway sector projects in the North, and a 500 MW coal power plant at Sampur using environmentally friendly technologies, with a credit line of US$ 200 million.

No pressure

There is the major initiative to construct 50,000 houses for internally displaced persons in the Northern and the Eastern Provinces, in addition to around US$ 250 million humanitarian assistance being provided by India for the North.

Economic and trade relationship between the two countries will also receive a fillip with the launching of the CEOs Forum.

There was no pressure from India for accelerated signing of CEPA or on devolution.

There was an understanding of Sri Lanka’s position on the need to close the gaps in the 13th Amendment; to achieve closer relations between the provinces and the centre, where a bi-cameral legislature could play a major role.

The meeting between the President and a team of MPs from Tamil Nadu was also useful in having greater understanding on the need for a political settlement.

If the visit to India was an outstanding success, President Rajapaksa returned home to a meeting that further strengthened Sri Lanka’s important relations with China. The visit of People’s Republic of China Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang showed China’s strong commitment to the development process here.

At the breakfast meeting with the President, the Chinese Vice Premier referred to the long standing relationship between the two nations, dating back to the Rubber-Rice Pact in 1952. Dejiang noted Sri Lanka’s consistent support for the “One China Policy”.

President Rajapaksa emphasized the deep appreciation of Sri Lanka for the moral and material support extended by China for the struggle against terrorism.

The President valued as well the interventions by China in international fora, supportive of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka. The Vice Premier felicitated President Rajapaksa on his recent electoral successes and expressed confidence that the strong leadership of the President which had led to the victory over terrorism, would now enable the President to lead the people to an era of even greater progress and prosperity. China affirmed its support to Sri Lanka’s efforts for development and infrastructure construction.

Priority areas

There was satisfaction at the continued expansion of bi-lateral trade between Sri Lanka and China, reaching USD 1.6 billion in 2009 despite global recession, and the growth of Sri Lankan exports to China by 64 percent the first quarter of this year. There was agreement reached that the areas of education, science and technology and ICT should be taken up as priority areas for bilateral cooperation.

As the troops marched in parade, guns boomed in salute and aircraft flew past in honour of the victory against terrorism, Sri Lanka now stands firm in its commitment to democracy, with foreign relations reaching new heights of friendship and goodwill, holding much promise of future success for the country in social progress, economic development and international relations.