No one will forget Prabhakaran's barbarism

Lankans lived in fear for over 30 years:

Chandra Aththanagoda

No one will forget the unpleasant era when Sri Lankans lived in fear in the face of the acts of barbarism perpetrated by Prabhakaran for over 30 years. Every Sri Lankan lived almost half of his or her life in fear of terrorism. Bus bombs, suicide bombs, claymore mines were words commonly used and heard everywhere

Almost all sections lived in fear and agony until their husbands, wives brothers and sisters and children who set out in the morning on their daily errands returned home safely in the evening without being victim to a cruel terrorist bomb.

People had to silently wait in anguish and agony when terrorists went on a mad spree destroying places of worship and killing the Maha Sangha, farmers and people on the streets. Economic nerves centres including the Central Bank building and the Airport were attacked and the powers that be had to grin and bear it.

People became helpless when political leaders took a defeatist attitude in the face of Prabhakaran's onslaughts. We should not forget that a certain section of leaders even had the audacity to suggest that we should give away a part of the country to them to overcome this crisis. It as at a time Sri Lankan feelings of heroism were subdued that President Mahinda Rajapaksa needed the support of all sections of the community for the success of the war effort launched by him. At a time when certain individuals even feared to utter a word against terrorists for fear of their lives Keheliya Rambukwella placed country before self and took the forefront in supporting the President's anti-terrorist war displaying his true qualities as a patriotic and fearless leader from up-country.

Media network

The advent of Keheliya Rambukwella who had a vast voter base in Kandy district added strength and energy to the President's march towards building a new Sri Lanka. More politicians then joined the Government by following in the footsteps of Rambukwella.

At that time the UPFA did not command a stable majority in Parliament. The Opposition always tried to destabilize the Government whenever important Bills were taken up in Parliament.

The UPFA was not in a position to even appoint its nominee as the Speaker. If the Government was unstable the benefit accrued to the LTTE.

In this situation the steps taken by Keheliya helped to stabilize the Government. This had brought beneficial results to the Government even at the present day.

Rambukwella who realised that the destruction of the LTTE's worldwide media network that spread distortions and falsehoods was a fundamental factor for achieving war victory launched the Media Centre for National Security and gave leadership to it to counter LTTE false propaganda.

His role as media spokesman for National Security should be considered as a national service than a mere media operation.

Rambukwella displayed his creativity by dubbing the war against terrorism as a 'humanitarian operation' to entice the international world.

Humanitarian war

At a time when certain servile sections of the local and international media greedy for terrorist money tried to justify acts of terrorism, Rambukwella understood the country's need and the government's objective took steps to destroy the terrorist media network to smithereens to silence local and international media critics.

The media spokesman's role succeeded in weakening the media network supportive of terrorism mainly due to Rambukwella's strength of argument language proficiency and creativity. Keheliya Rambukwella who described Prabhakaran as a coward rather than a hero and cleared the Sri Lanka's path to war victory and restoration of freedom and peace.

He provided energy to the humanitarian war by providing information about the self sacrifice made by our war heroes and evoking an optimistic attitude about the deeds of our Security Forces personnel. By reporting the events in the North to the media Keheliya Rambukwella was able to make the people shareholders of the last and final battle against terrorists called the Vanni operation.

The force of his publicity strategy helped to kindle patriotic feelings among a majority of people and obtain their support and blessings to the war heroes. The media revolution carried by Keheliya Rambukwella enabled people to realise that the days of terrorism and Prabhakaran himself were numbered.

The Security Forces were able to complete the humanitarian war and defeat terrorism within a period of less than three years. This is a victory unparalled in the history of the world. Certain media critics and cartoonists depicted Keheliya Rambukwella as a dhoby washing the government's dirty linen. Rambukwella who was never offended by such detractions said he was only washing the terrorist dirt which soiled Sri Lanka's image and good name.

Pride of Asia

Keheliya Rambukwella has ordered the compilation of book of over 1,500 cartoons depicting him to be kept as a memento in life.

This regional political leader who always respected public opinion and country's freedom and sovereignty is a pleasing personality who always has a smile on his face.

Rambukwella who has no personal enemies always recalls with gratitude the role played by the media at the time of country's need.

As Media and Communication Minister today he has dedicated himself towards ensuring the success of the government's national development drive. As a representative of the people of Kandy district he has launched a sustainable program to cater to the welfare of his people.

"Now that I have done my duty towards the nation my firm commitment and resolve today is to transform the hill country into a centre of attraction when Sri Lanka becomes the pride of Asia" he says. It is with this objective in view that he is now giving leadership to the Kandurata Udanaya development program under the guidance of the President.