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
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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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