Conflict dragged on due to blunders - President

Certain elements trying to destabilize country:

Rasika Somarathna

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday said that Sri Lanka as a whole had to suffer due to a protracted conflict because of betrayals, subjugations and blunders made in the past. He was of the opinion that the conflict could have ended much earlier and the devastation caused by it to both man and property could have been avoided to a great extent, if certain administrators in the past had engaged in prudent and selfless decision making on behalf of the country.

The President made the above observations after he declared open ‘Lakviru Sevana’ - a sales complex to market products made by disabled soldiers in Battaramulla.

The sales complex declared open to the public yesterday is built in accordance with a concept and under the advise and directions of Ven Elle Gunawansa Thera with the cooperation of the ‘Dharmayathana Trust’.

President Rajapaksa said that if some successful military operations in the past had been allowed to continue the conflict would have ended much earlier.

Some also gave the LTTE weapons and the terrorists used those same weapons to attack our Security Forces, he added.

He was of the opinion that the strategies to divide the Motherland were not limited to the battlefield but had spread its tentacles to all spheres of society.

The President said that for 30 years people had faced this threat in the midst of many obstacles. Certain elements who earned dividends from terrorists too were behind moves to destabilize the country, he added.

Remnants of these elements still continue to engage in slander to tarnish the country’s image and that of Security Forces, he observed.

“It is only those who have hatred towards the country and nation that can betray such heroes, he added. He noted that Sri Lanka with a collective effort had risen to the challenge with bravery, national pride and patriotism to defeat the forces of terror. We conducted a humanitarian mission.

“The Eastern Province liberation with zero civilian casualties is an example to others,” he noted.

The President stressed that in this endeavour the country would never forget the sacrifices made by heroic forces and would continue to be in their debt.

The President also observed that in the aftermath of the conflict the Security Forces today were productively contributing to the development initiatives and public assistance programs in the country.

The President praised the efforts made by Ven Elle Gunawansa Thera to initiate the ‘Lakviru Sevana’ complex and described it as one which would reinforce and encourage war heroes.

Ven Elle Gunawansa Thera too spoke on the occasion. On his arrival the President was taken to the complex in a procession attended by disabled soldiers. He was later greeted and welcomed by 14 street children now studying in a special school in Colombo - another social service activity initiated by Ven Gunawansa Thera.

The Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga Tri Forces Commanders, other military and police officials and politicians too were present.