President at Ranaviru Day celebrations:
Only we can solve our own problems, and none other
*‘We have an Armed Force committed to
rebuild the country’:
*‘We will not heed to the demands of
separatists or terrorists’:
“We do not hesitate
to ensure the democratic and human rights of the citizens living in
north and east. But we will not heed to the demands of separatists or
terrorists. When people in this country do not accept their demands,
they look for ways to make us bow down using foreign influence. But I
must emphasize that no one can do anything in this country without the
consent of our people. It is only we who can solve our own problems, and
no one else,” said President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing the nation, at
the second Ranaviru Day celebrations at Galle Face, Colombo yesterday.
“There is a truth we
have to tell the world. We did not build Armed Services to invade
countries. What we have is an Armed Force committed to rebuild the
country with utmost commitment to the people. Today we celebrate the
victory of ensuring the right of every citizen of the country to live in
harmony. It is the victory of freeing thousands of civilians in the
north, who were held as hostages,” the President said.
The following is the
text of the President’s address:
After uniting the country with the defeat of the most ruthless
terrorism in the world, today we were able to hoist our national flag
with dignity and honour.
Today we celebrate the victory of ensuring the right of every citizen
of the country to live in harmony. It is the victory of freeing
thousands of civilians in the north, who were held as hostages.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing the nation, at the second
Ranaviru Day celebrations at Galle Face, Colombo yesterday.
Picture by Sudath Silva |
By adding Human Rights to the Constitution it will not guarantee
those rights to the people of this country. If someone robs the right to
life, it is only by ensuring the right to life can we preserve human
rights. Therefore, today we also celebrate the victory of ensuring the
Right to Life of thousands of citizens.
We can look back with pride and much satisfaction at the last two
years since we achieved freedom from terrorism.
Development task
You are aware that we have been able to draw a new map of Sri Lanka
through the development revolution taking place here today.
The north and east won by war heroes are fast becoming prosperous, in
place of the hardships that prevailed.
As we removed the ‘border village’ from the Sri Lankan map, we are
now taking measures to delete ‘displaced and destitute’ from our
vocabulary. Many thousand acres of land sowed with landmines are now
been cultivated. Thousands of displaced civilians were resettled with
all the facilities, from shelter, bedding to mosquito coils. Likewise,
reconstruction of North and East is a major development task in our
history.
With rays of freedom rising in the north and east, the rays of
development are also dawning on people in those areas. People in those
areas should bear in mind that what we rebuild rapidly are the public
properties destroyed by terrorists.
When we rebuild the north and east destroyed by the terrorists, the
world knows what the terrorists who are abroad did during past two
years. Since the country was united with the death of the last LTTE
leader in Vellamulliwaikkal on May 19, these elements organized against
the motherland again. They did not cease to collect funds for terrorism
and many other illegal activities.
War heroes
During the war they had heaps of money for purchasing weapons and
ships. With that huge amount of money the terrorists continue to spread
false rumours, conspire and spread false propaganda against Sri Lanka.
Even though terrorism was eradicated from Sri Lanka, terrorists living
abroad continue to work to destroy our country. Those abroad, misusing
the democratic freedom and their right to vote in the countries of their
domicile, are influencing those countries against us in campaigns
against us.
Terrorism in a country begins with shooting down the truth. Even
after war the Tamil Tigers continue to target the truth. As a result of
this, conspiracies were launched to write false reports against our
country and our war heroes.
We do not hesitate to ensure the democratic and human rights of the
citizens living in the north and east. But we will not heed to the
demands of separatists or terrorists. When people in this country do not
accept their demands, they look for ways to make us bow down using
foreign influence. But I must emphasize that no one can do anything in
this country without the consent of our people. It is only we who can
solve our own problems, and no one else.
I will recall what I said in the past that our troops went to the
battlefront carrying a gun in one hand, the Human Rights Charter in the
other, food for the innocent displaced on their shoulders, and love of
their children in their hearts. They did not target any communities or
religions, and did not march ahead with hatred towards anyone.
Buddhist traditions
After the death of the terrorist leader, we took care of his mother
and father. We still look after the families of leaders who surrendered.
We were able to protect our country over the centuries from invaders
because we did not hate any race, religion or person.
It is based on the great Buddhist traditions that do not preach
hatred towards any race or person, and also on the core values of other
religions, that we fought against the most ruthless, most cruel
terrorist organization in the world.
We are the only country that fought the terrorists fighting against
us while feeding them and providing them with medicines. Therefore, when
we see how some countries carry out operations against enemies today, we
are proud of the humanitarian nature of our operation against the enemy.
We were with you in the battlefield. It is same today. We will not
betray you before the world.
Heroes of war, we did not confine you to barracks after the end of
the humanitarian operation. We gave you an important role to play in the
task of rebuilding our motherland.
Economic growth rate
From the Foreign Service to the beautifying of Colombo City, war
heroes contribute immensely for the betterment of this country. You who
shed your blood for this country, are today toiling for the development
process of the country. Your discipline and the commitment have placed a
high demand for your services in many sectors.
There is a truth we have to tell the world. We did not build Armed
Services to invade countries. What we have is an Armed Force committed
to rebuild the country with utmost commitment to the people. Whenever we
step with freedom on this motherland, we must remember with honour that
there are thousands of Great Heroes of War at rest in this soil. I state
with pride, that even at this very moment, our war heroes are ready to
make the supreme sacrifice for the protection of this country.
To make the sacrifice made by war heroes more meaningful, we have to
build a great future for people to live in harmony. We have shown to the
world that we are capable of doing so.
Future challenges
The best answer to those who ask what benefits the people received
with the end of the war, is to respond by showing the development both
in the North and South today. The economic growth rate in the country in
2007 was 6.8 percent.
But after the end of the war, we have achieved an economic growth
rate of 8 percent. The current growth rate in north is 14.2 percent. The
unemployment rate has come down from 6 percent to 4.9 percent. We were
able to stabilize the value of the dollar.
The best way to meet our future challenges is to strengthen national
unity. Today we do not hear a single incident of communal disharmony in
this country.
Two years ago, we celebrated the victory over terrorism without
hurting the feelings of any community. Today, Sinhalese take part in Vel
processions; Tamil people participate with enthusiasm when Sinhalese
conduct Sambuddhatva Jayanthi celebrations. Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims
alike went sightseeing in the night to view Vesak decorations.
It is our responsibility to preserve this bond between communities. I
emphasize to all political parties and groups that it will do no good to
reopen the healing wounds, to continue to dig up the past, and creating
disharmony and hatred among people will be of no benefit. The only way
to secure this the freedom of our land and this victory is to protect
this great bond between communities.
Heroes of war, those committed to bring peace to the country are
pleased to see that people who were once hiding in the jungles with
their children are freely moving about today without any fear at all.
When you see the land burdened with landmines is now being cultivated
and the sea routes used by suicide vessels of the Sea Tigers now being
used by our fishermen to earn their livelihood, you will realize that
your sacrifices have not been in vain. Your hearts will be filled with
happiness to see children who inherited the suicidal cyanide capsule,
now learning in schools. I pay tribute to everyone who was committed to
make our motherland free, content and prosperous.
Oba Samata Suba Anagathayak
(A prosperous future to you all) |