New Dawn of great promise

By a staff correspondent

Today marks the third anniversary of Victory Day that brought an end to the three decades long separatist war and ushered in a new chapter of post Independence Sri Lanka.The new era is also significant in many ways in that it gave substance and true meaning to the Independence gained six decades ago, where the nation is today rid of all vestiges of divisive forces that threatened to dismember it from the very inception.

May 19 2009 is certainly a momentous day for all patriotic Sri Lankans.It is from this threshold that one could obtain a clear perspective of the two periods- one dominated by a dark passage of death and destruction , the other a bright new era of peace and tranquillity opening new vistas for a nation emerging from the ashes of war.

Even the most vociferous critic of President Mahinda Rajapaksa will concede that Sri Lanka's landscape had undergone a monumental change since that historic day three years ago.They would also readily agree that his war for peace strategy was the right one that has paid rich dividends. Not that the President was a war monger as was then claimed by his critics. He gave the LTTE ample opportunities to come to a negotiated settlement even holding a round of peace talks in Geneva in order to give negotiations a chance. The LTTE as usual demonstrated its duplicitous character, only this time the outfit had to reckon with an opponent who was not bent on appeasement.

The LTTE it will be recalled tested providence by shutting down the Mavil Aru anicut forcing the President's hand to go after the terrorists with might and main.

The step that was taken with single minded purpose to rid the country of the scourge of terrorism that was eating into the vitals of the nation never faltered until victory was accomplished.There was no looking back once the mission was set in motion by the Commander- in-Chief to destroy once and for all the canker of terrorism that had paralysed the economy ,retarding development.

Unlike leaders before him President Rajapaksa refused to be intimidated by international forces who did everything in their power to blunt the war effort.He had to wage battle on many fronts, the international forces, the tamil diaspora, local and foreign NGOs and human rights groups not to mention the various political forces which were trying to stymie this mission for their own selfish ends.

As the country at large is well aware all these obstructions were steadfastly resisted by the President who had a greater obligation by the nation.He brooked no opposition and conceded no quarter where the fight against terrorism was concerned. All foreign envoys who streamed into the country to persuade him to halt the military operation were practically shown the door.He had no reason to cow down to foreign powers when he had the solidarity of the entire nation to count on.

Today the country is witnessing the fruits of his labour his stand vindicated.Bomb explosions in the city which were almost routine is today a distant memory and daily tensions of families worrying for the safety of their loved ones, a thing of the past.No longer do parents live on tenterhooks until the safe return of their offspring from school.Nor are there anxious housewives wondering on the fate of their husbands on hearing the news of a bomb explosion in the capital.<P> Bus and train passengers are today devoid of tensions and anxiety guaranteed of a safe passage to their destinations in one piece.

Not only that.Villagers in the remote hamlets of the North Central Province no longer have sleepless nights living in dread of stalking terrorists who butchered women and children in their sleep.Farmers could now go out to their chenas and paddy fields without even a semblance of fear.- the days of machete wielding terrorists going rampage only a bad nightmare .

Television screens are no longer full of gory scenes of massacres.Absent also are the wail of ambulances conveying body bags from the North.There are no mad stampedes at hospitals in the immediate aftermath of a bomb explosions a common sight in the not distant past.

Colombo which was once garrison city is today a hive of activity , all barricades and checkpoints having being dismantled, where even car races are held attended by large crowds of spectators- a far cry from the days when the city was under seige.

The country's leaders no longer come on National television promising to eradicate terrorism following a major tragedy since terrorism has been rooted out from Sri Lankan soil due to the unwavering commitment by the country's present leader.

The nation which was lagging behind in development during the three decades of war today appears racing to make up for the lost time.Ports, airports, power projects are being completed in double quick time with investors who previously shied away from the country due to the uncertain security climate today rushing to set up business is sectors such as tourism, highways, power generation etc. The end to the fear psychosis has also galvanized the local investors to put their money into numerous ventures particularly the booming construction industry that is sweeping the North and East.

Road networks that were neglected for over three decades are today being developed with the country witnessing its first Superhighway connecting the metropolitan with the South.Colombo which was a city under seige and bore the brunt of terrorist bombings is today being beautified and transformed into the Garden City it was once famous for.All these no doubt will give the visitor a glimpse of the new face of a nation which is emerging from the ashes of war.

None of this could have been possible without the sacrifices made by the valiant men on the battle field.To them goes the eternal gratitude of the nation .It would be right to say they sacrificed their today for the nation's tomorrow.Their heroism was doubly significant for the world was for the first time was introduced to the concept of the "Humanitarian operation" where a fighting force physically rescued innocent civilians from the clutches of the enemy risking their life and limb.It is these valiant men and women who receive the nation's salute today so that their valour and sacrifices will forever be embedded in the national psyche.

Sri Lanka has today emerged as a middle income country having shed the dishonour of being ranked among the poorest of the poor not so long ago.This is a tribute to the vision of the President who steered the country along the correct economic path combatting the twin setbacks of a world recession and resource sapping terrorist war.It would be now up to all patriotic Sri Lankans to help consolidate the gains of the war victory to see the country emerge as one of economic powers in the region.

True, Sri Lanka has still many obstacles to surmount before ultimate victory is achieved. Chief among these are the attempts by hostile nations to belittle the war victory by making spurious charges against the heroic forces, that fail to meet the truth.

Hence this is the ideal time for all sections to unite shedding all parochial considerations to meet this new threat to the nation, by helping the President in his endeavour to bring about a true and lasting reconciliation in the national polity in order to give substance to the valiant role of the heroic forces who will be feted today at the Victory parade.