‘National rejuvenation getting into top gear’ - Part V:

People allowed to travel freely in North

Text of keynote speech at the defence seminar, ‘Towards Lasting Peace And Stability’ delivered by Defence and Urban Development Ministry Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa on August 8

Their members were encouraged to pursue democratic activities. Many of them are now involved in mainstream politics, and some are involved in other peaceful social activities. Another essential step was the removal of the various restrictions that used to be in place as a result of the conflict. There were restrictions on travel to the North, including restrictions on foreigners, media personnel and both foreign and local Non Governmental Organisations. Since the dawn of peace these restrictions were progressively curtailed. As of today, there are absolutely no restrictions on travel. Instead, there is complete freedom of movement for all people in the North. The complete removal of restrictions that had been imposed on various items was also important.

During the war, the transport of certain items was restricted for fear that they would be used by the LTTE in offensive operations. As of today, these restrictions no longer exist.

The restoration of the freedom of movement has been a tremendous boost not only to the North, but to all the people of Sri Lanka. Large numbers of local tourists travel from the North to the South and from the South to the North on a daily basis. Large numbers of visitors from abroad have also come to Sri Lanka over the past three years. Since July 2011, more than 51,400 foreign passport holders from over 100 countries have visited Sri Lanka and travelled to the North, including nearly 31,500 this year alone. A considerable number of them were expatriates visiting their ancestral homes and properties and their relatives in Sri Lanka. This is a testament to the freedom that exists throughout this country. It is in stark contrast to the situation that prevailed while the LTTE continued to pose a threat.

Fishing boats

Many restrictions also used to be in place at sea due to the grave threat posed by the LTTE’s Sea Tiger wing. This section of the LTTE launched attacks on our Naval assets after infiltrating sensitive areas in the guise of civilian fishing boats. As a result, restrictions were introduced on fishing not only in the seas off the North and East but throughout the country’s entire coastline. These included limitations on the times and the locations in which fishermen could put to sea as well as restrictions on the size of their fishing craft and the power of their outboard motors.

All these restrictions were removed in phases after the end of the Humanitarian Operation. Restrictions on the times at which fishing could take place were gradually phased out between June 2009 and February 2010. The remaining restrictions, including those on the power of outboard motors, were removed by October 2011. Restrictions on fishing near critical harbours have also been greatly reduced.

High Security Zones

In terms of restricted areas on ground, the High Security Zones in the North have been removed over the last two years. In five stages between October 2010 and November 2011, much of the area covered under the High Security Zone near the Palaly Cantonment was released, with lands in 17 Grama Niladhari divisions being fully handed back to civilians.

The Palaly cantonment is now the only area in which some security restrictions remain, but even within the Cantonment, civilians have free access to the airport and the Kankasanthurai harbour.

While it is true that there are still some civilian properties within the Cantonment, it must be stressed that civilians have not occupied these properties for the last 20 to 25 years. The government has taken measures to pay compensation to the owners of these properties and to provide alternate lands to them. It should also be noted that lands that had been forcefully taken from the people and occupied by the LTTE for many years have also been released to their legal owners.

In addition to the reduction in the extent of the High Security Zone, the reduction in the numbers of security barricades, roadblocks and checkpoints in the North and East is also significant. There were large numbers of such security measures in place during the course of the conflict and immediately after, but these were gradually withdrawn after the dawn of peace. In 2009, there were approximately 2,000 checkpoints, sentry points and roadblocks in these two provinces. Today, there are hardly any. The number of troops deployed and the number of camps remaining in the North and East has also been reduced to a bare minimum, 28 battalions that were in the North have been relocated to the South and the East. The overall number of troops in the North has also reduced by more than 21,000 since 2009. Troops will remain in strategic locations for security purposes, but their presence will be non-intrusive. The day-to-day maintenance of law and order has already been handed over to the Police. Concurrently, the capabilities of the Police Department to carry out these duties have been significantly improved. Eleven new police stations have been established in areas where they had not been allowed to exist while the LTTE dominated territory in the North and East. Seven hundred and eighty nine Tamil policemen have been recruited between 2009 and 2011, and they have been trained and posted to these police stations. In 2012 alone, a further 425 have been recruited. Training in Tamil language has also been provided to additional numbers of police personnel.

Provincial Council elections

The restoration of democratic elections in the North and East not long after the end of the war is another act of which the government is very proud. Provincial Council elections were held in the Eastern Province even before the Humanitarian Operation had ended, and Local Authority elections were held for the Jaffna Municipal Council and Vavuniya Urban Council as early as August 2009. A Presidential Election and General Election were both held throughout the country in 2010. Local authority elections held islandwide last year saw free and fair elections being throughout the North and East. In the areas formerly dominated by the LTTE, people exercised their franchise without fear for the first time in three decades.

The Tamil National Alliance emerged first in most electorates, but the main government party also came close in several of them. The fact that political plurality has returned to these areas is clear from the results of these elections. The swift restoration of democracy and the right to vote in those areas previously under LTTE dominance is very significant. Further, it needs to be noted that many former militants are now playing an active role in politics. The LTTE’s one time Eastern Province Commander, Vinayagamoorthi Muralitharan, also known as Karuna Amman, is a junior Cabinet Minister. A former LTTE child soldier, Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, also known as Pillayan, is the Chief Minister of the Eastern Province. A number of former LTTE cadres have also become chairmen of Local Government bodies. Their participation in the political process demonstrates the robustness of Sri Lanka’s democracy. With the restoration of normalcy through all the measures discussed above, the most fundamental requirement of the people in the North and East is the opportunity to build a better life for themselves. That is why, as was described before, the government focused so much attention on the infrastructure and services needed to facilitate the return of economic life in these areas. A great deal of work has been done to facilitate the resumption of livelihoods amongst the people in the North. Financial assistance as well as assistance in kind has been provided to farmers, fishermen and small business owners. Several such programmes have already yielded excellent results.

Future generations

In this context, I am particularly pleased to note that a great deal of work has been done by the military to help the civilians. The Army has renovated more than 6,000 houses and constructed nearly 7,000 new permanent or semi-permanent houses for the civilians being resettled. It has constructed 19 schools, created 23 school playgrounds, and renovated more than 55 old school buildings. Assistance has also been provided through the provision of fishing gear, utilities for farming and provision of livestock and seeds for agriculture. Medical clinics are held from time to time, and assistance is provided for the conduct of religious, cultural and other festivals. During this critical period, as the newly resettled people are finding their feet, the role played by the military in assisting the civilians has helped our Armed Services win their hearts and minds.

As the people of the North and East resume their day-to-day lives in a peaceful and stable Sri Lanka, they do so with fully restored democratic freedoms, greatly improved standards of living and with unrestricted opportunities to make a better future for themselves. I have every confidence that as a result of the many beneficial developments that have taken place since the end of the war, there will be no space for the re-emergence of our previous problems.

Sri Lanka’s journey during the three years since the dawn of peace has seen the country transform itself from a nation at war to a country that is amongst the most peaceful, stable and secure in the world. The unwavering commitment and resolve of the government to swiftly implement measures for Reconstruction, Resettlement, Rehabilitation, Reintegration and Reconciliation has laid the foundation for a prosperous future for all our citizens, irrespective of their diversity and differences. I have every confidence that as we step forward into this brighter future, we will do so together as Sri Lankans. That is the greatest accolade that can be paid to the success of Sri Lanka’s post-conflict development; that will be our legacy to future generations.

Concluded