Gemunu Watch Colours ceremony:
Eelam project still alive - President
‘Cannot afford to relax’:
Dharma SRI ABEYRATNE in Kuruvita
President Mahinda Rajapaksa said no one should be allowed to tarnish
the unblemished image of the country while in Sri Lanka or abroad, by
the patriotic people of this country.
He told Army personnel of the Gemunu Watch that although terrorism
has been defeated they cannot afford to relax.
“In the same way a proposal was made in Vaddukoddai for separation 40
years ago, another conference was held the other day to give life to the
Eelam project,” he said. The President was addressing Army personnel of
the Gemunu Watch at the Gemunu Watch Regimental Centre, Kuruwita at the
Colours Awarding ceremony.
“We must understand this threat.
"The aim of the Eelamists is to break the unity and trust among us
and reduce the feeling for the country and make us criticise the
motherland," President Rajapaksa said. The President said a leader of a
political party who attended this pro-Eelam conference had similarly
criticised the country. "However the same people who tried to set up
Eelam here intervened to stop his speech," the President said.
President Rajapaksa said what this demonstrates is that although
Eelam is we1come elsewhere they don't want this to happen in their own
country.
The President said although Eelam could be established elsewhere, no
country will want this to happen on their own soil.
"On the other hand, patriotic Sri Lankans should not allow those
criticising their motherland abroad or allow foreigners to criticise the
country in their presence. We should not play into the hands of
Eelamists," the President said.
Addressing the Gemunu Watch, the President said the Genumu Watch has
rendered yeoman service to Mother Sri Lanka.
Two Army commanders were created by Gemunu Watch. Gemunu Watch was
named after King Dutugemunu. King Dutugemunu conducted 34 operations to
liberate the country and employed great tactical skill to safeguard the
country from enemies, he said.
The book titled The Art of War which is used by you today was written
thousands of years ago. But the security measures, adopted by King
Dutugemunu are also thousands of years old, he said. The President said
King Dutugemunu was the first person who taught the world to safeguard
one's country while adhering to human qualities.
"He taught the culture of respecting the tomb of the enemy who fought
against him. How much the enemy hates us, even if the enemy takes our
lives, we adopt a culture of not hating the enemy or his race in the way
of the great king."
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