Manning new police stations:

Opportunity for NE youth and ex-cadres

The opportunity will be given to North and East youth and also ex-cadres of LTTE during enlistment to man new police stations which are being established, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said He said that they could join hands with the Civil Security Force personnel in the development drive while doing a prestigious service and assist in the development of their areas. Defence and Urban Development Ministry Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa was addressing the workshop for Sri Lankan diplomats in overseas missions at Diyatalawa Military Academy on Sunday.

He added that not only former senior ex-LTTE leaders who are involved in national and provincial level politics but also there is chance for others to involve in local councils in the future. The special workshop began at the Sri Lanka Military Academy in Diyatalawa on Sunday. President Mahinda Rajapaksa was the chief guest.

The Defence Secretary explained in detail the actual ground situation during the final stages of the humanitarian operation and how the government and the Security Forces rescued more than 300,000 innocent civilians who were held captive by the LTTE as a human shield by opening up a safe corridor in the frontline through which water and medical aid were sent in and the wounded and the sick were evacuated through air and sea.

He further said that how even during the last stages the LTTE exhibited their inhumanness by using suicide bombings to stop the fleeing civilians and mentioned the Vishwamadu incident where an LTTE suicide bombing killed a number of innocent civilians including women and children and also military personnel. Secretary Defence stated that all road blocks and check points had now been removed and people are free to travel anywhere in the country without restrictions and that more than 53,000 members of the Tamil Diaspora, NGOs and foreign diplomats who have visited the island and traveled to the North have seen the present situation.

They have seen first-hand the government’s efforts in the rebuilding and reconstruction process especially in the North and East and also the progress in the rehabilitation and reintegration of ex -LTTE cadres. As a measure of national security only a part of the Palaly Camp is maintained at present and the government had taken measures to remove the surrounding 17 grama seva areas from the area, he stated.

He further added that the Tamil Diaspora dared to raise a resenting voice during the terror reign of Pirabaharan when innocent Tamil civilians were held captive. New schools are being built, old ones are being renovated. Road network is being upgraded, destroyed railroads are being relayed, bridges and culverts are being rebuilt.

A small faction of the international media with vested interests is involved in slandering Sri Lanka with false allegations and carrying on the separatist agenda.

The international community should be made aware of the peaceful and prosperous state of the minority community of Sri Lanka, the Defence Secretary reiterated. Director of National Intelligence Major General (Rtd) HKG Hendevitharana and Colonel TS Salley presented in detail how a section of the Tamil Diaspora is carrying out propaganda to mislead the international community.

External Affairs Minister Prof G L Peiris, Irrigation and Water Resource Management Minister and Leader of the House Nimal Siripala de Silva were present. Sri Lankan ambassadors, heads of missions and Staff were also present.

Courtesy: defence.lk