Humanitarian Op continues
*LTTE trying to regroup abroad
*Aims to level charges against Sri Lanka
Danushka GODAKUMBURA and Bakthi DHARMAPRIYA MENDIS
President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday said that the humanitarian
operation will not end merely because terrorism was wiped out from the
country. He said the humanitarian operation will continue until the
memories of bitter experiences embedded in the minds of people wither
away.
He added that it will continue till the vestiges of separatism are
dispelled from the minds of the people. The President was speaking at
the passing out of 253 Cadet officers at the Diyathalawa Military
Academy yesterday.
The President added that the Cadet officers who passed out from the
Diyatalawa Army Academy will make their contribution to this
unaccomplished mission.
He said they succeeded in liberating the country from the clutches of
terrorism due to the high standard of discipline maintained by them. He
was of the opinion that all members of the Security Forces should abide
by the military and civil law of the country. He added that the
humanitarian operation has come at an important juncture where it will
focus on winning the hearts of the people who underwent untold hardship
due to terrorism.
The humanitarian mission includes the liberation of people from the
clutches of terrorists, demining the area held by the terrorists,
resettling the people and provision of facilities to them.
The President said the people and the Security Forces were organized
against terrorism.
He said the people exercised utmost restraint in the face of hundreds
of ruthless terrorist attacks that killed thousands of people for the
past 30 years.
“We should honour these people by allowing no room for terrorism or
separatism to raise their head in our Motherland again” , he added.
He added that those who love their mothers and the Motherland alike
will reach the top rung of excellence.
He told the Cadet officers that they should always keep in mind the
sacrifice made by their predecessors for the unity and territorial
integrity of their Motherland. He said that these officers should
respect these heroes of the land.
The President said that the remnants of LTTE terrorists who were
defeated in the country are regrouping in foreign countries and these
elements are trying to put the country in disrepute by levelling charges
of war crimes at the Security Forces.
He said the Government has already initiated a fight against these
elements at international level. They charge the Security Forces of
committing war crimes during the humanitarian operation that liberated
thousands of people of all communities from the clutches of terrorists.
President’s Secretary Lalith Weeratunga, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya
Rajapaksa and Army Commander Lt General Jagath Jayasuriya were present.
The President was accorded a guard of honour by the Cadet Officers
after his arrival along with Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa,
President’s Secretary Lalith Weeratunga, Army Commander Lt Gen Jagath
Jayasuriya and Army Training Academy Commandant Brig J R Kulatunga.
Officers who excelled in different curricular activities were also
presented with awards.
Parents of the officers were present to witness the passing out
parade.
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