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Tuesday, 28 August 2012

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Security, Reconciliation and Sustainable Development

Text of the speech by Defence and Urban Development Ministry Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa at the fifth annual symposium of the Kotelawala Defence University held recently




Defence and Urban Development Ministry Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa addressing the symposium of the Kotelawala Defence University. Picture courtesy: Asian Tribune

It gives me great pleasure to address all of you at Opening Ceremony of the fifth annual symposium organised by the Kotelawala Defence University. The theme for this year’s symposium is 'Ensuring National Security Through Reconciliation and Sustainable Development'. At this important moment in our nation’s history, this topic is a most appropriate one. A little over three years ago, Sri Lanka emerged from a three decades long terrorist conflict waged by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, better known as the LTTE. Today, the country is experiencing a national revival that will restore it to its rightful place on the world stage.

The challenge before the government is to facilitate this resurgence whilst taking necessary steps to ensure long-term peace and stability by upholding national security.

Democratic process

The Humanitarian Operation that liberated Sri Lanka from the LTTE’s brutal terrorism was centred on restoring complete normalcy to the nation. It was the intention of the government to bring back peace and stability for all our people. Now that this objective has been achieved, it is vital that the country moves forward and fully exploits the many opportunities afforded by peace. All Sri Lankans, irrespective of their ethnicity, religion or affiliations, must gain the confidence that they can lead lives of dignity, equality and fulfilment within a supportive, dynamic and multi-cultural environment. To achieve this vision, the government is presently working hard to achieve national reconciliation and sustainable development.

In this regard, it is important to fully appreciate the many challenges that faced the government in the post war situation. Nearly 300,000 civilians had been taken out of their homes by the LTTE for use as a human shield during its retreat towards its strongholds. To prevent the advance of the military, the LTTE had created obstacles by laying mines and Improvised Explosive Devices in the towns and villages it left behind. Because of this, the displaced civilians could not go back to their homes soon after the war. Looking after the IDPs, demining and reconstructing their towns and villages, and facilitating their speedy resettlement were all major challenges for the state. Another very significant issue was dealing with the nearly 12,000 LTTE cadres who surrendered to Security Forces during the Humanitarian Operation. Resolving these issues as quickly as possible was essential to the restoration of normalcy.

Apart from appreciating the challenges faced, it is equally important to understand the overall context in the North and East at that time. The areas under LTTE control had been in virtual isolation from the rest of Sri Lanka for decades. The democratic process had been subverted, law and order had been undermined, the civil administration had been under duress, and ordinary people had enjoyed little control over their destinies. Although the LTTE had maintained the trappings of a state apparatus in the areas it controlled, it was an illusion designed to disguise territory held under gunpoint.

Economic development in these regions had also lagged far behind the rest of the country while under LTTE control. Although successive governments had continuously supplied services including healthcare, education and utilities to these regions over the years, the LTTE did not allow these resources to be used properly.

Post-war situation

The non-governmental organisations supposed to be engaging in development work in these areas were also ineffective. As a result, virtually no economic progress took place. The infrastructure, including the transportation networks, power supply, irrigation channels, and telecommunication services etc., were badly underdeveloped.

Developing the regions formerly under LTTE control was the primary challenge that the government faced in the post-war situation. The Eastern Province, which was liberated from the LTTE in July 2007, was brought back to virtual normalcy even while the Humanitarian Operation was continuing in the North.

Revival of tourism

The various groups that had operated in the East and carried arms for their protection against the LTTE were speedily disarmed, and encouraged to join the political mainstream. Elections were held in the Eastern Province as early as May 2008, giving the people the ability to exercise their franchise without fear. This restoration of their fundamental democratic rights was a significant accomplishment in a country that was still at war.

In terms of economic development, the government launched several initiatives under the 'Eastern Dawn' programme to restore infrastructure such as roads, bridges, irrigation channels and power supply. It also took several steps to revitalise productive sectors including crop agriculture, livestock, fisheries and tourism in this province. Within a remarkably short period of time after being liberated, the Eastern province emerged as a fast-developing, vibrant part of Sri Lanka.

The new-found confidence that the people in this Province enjoyed was shown in how quickly they resumed their normal activities and adopted new pursuits.

The revival of cultivation activities increased the acreage of productive paddy fields in the Province and significantly increased the quantities of paddy being brought to market in the country. With the progressive removal of restrictions at sea, the fisheries industry increased its productivity very quickly and is presently thriving. The revival of tourism brought in large numbers of tourists, and the Eastern Province has already attracted a lot of fresh investment from various sectors. The status that the Province now enjoys was virtually unimaginable when the East was liberated four years ago.

To affect a similar revival in the Northern Province, the President appointed a Presidential Task Force for Reconstruction and Resettlement immediately after the war ended. However, it was understood that the situation in the North was inherently more complicated than that of the East.

The LTTE had been in control over much of the territory in the North for many years, thereby leading to the suppression of its natural potential for a much longer period. This impacted both the psyche of the people of the North, as well as the degree to which the Province needed restoration. The problems caused by the thousands of anti-personnel mines, antitank mines and improvised explosive devices laid by the LTTE over large extents of land made this already bad situation much worse.

Resettlement programme

In total, it was suspected that mines had been laid in approximately 5,000 square kilometres of land in total. Demining such a vast area was a very difficult challenge that the government undertook with the help of many foreign organisations, including the Danish Demining Group, the UK based Mines Advisory Group, the Indian Sarvatra Group and Horizon Group, and several others. The Sri Lanka Army was given the responsibility of demining the largest area of land, which comprised almost 1,500 square kilometres, including 1,380 square kilometres in the densely mined North.

To be continued
 

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