Strengthening bonds between communities:

Forces have major role to play - Defence Secretary

Sandasen Marasinghe in Mullaitivu

Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa yesterday instructed all Security Forces personnel and the Police to work in unison and with patience concerning matters relating to civilians especially in the North and East to strengthen bonds between the communities.

Addressing more than 2,000 Security Forces personnel at the Mullaitivu Security Forces Headquarters, the Defence Secretary said if there were at least a minor incident, it would become a talking point for those various forces hostile to Sri Lanka, operating at international and national level.

The Defence Secretary further stated that we should not allow the country to go back to the horrendous era that prevailed for 30 years and liberated by our valiant Security Forces personnel and Police.

The Defence Secretary assured that the Government would resettle all the people in the Mullaitivu District soon and take all the probable measures to improove their living standards. In this endeavour the Security Forces and Police have to play a major role to accomplish it in a friendly manner to strengthen the bondage between the communities.

The Defence Secretary told the senior officers of the Forces stated that it was their responsibility to make the Security Forces personnel aware of the LTTE’s origin, its development and eventual defeat and to support them to prevent a resurgence of such a brutal terrorist organization.

He said the Navy has a pivotal role to play in curbing the illegal smuggling of weapons to the country.

None of the weapons possed by the LTTE were locally made. All were smuggled by sea. So the Navy has to play a very important role to prevent weapons smuggling.

The Defence Secretary addressed the personnel of the Security Forces while inspecting the security situation and the progress of the development programs and resettlement projects in the Mullaitivu District.

Chief of Defence Staff and Air Force Commander Air Chief Marshal Roshan Goonetileke, Army Commander Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, Navy Commander Vice Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe, Inspector General of Police Mahinda Balasooriya, Mullaitivu Special Force Commander Major General Prasanna Silva and Commanding Officer Sri Lanka Air Force Squadron Leader Rajitha Gunasinghe were also present.