Mervyn hits out at those trying to black out war victory memory
Nadira Gunatilleke
Public Relations and Public Affairs Minister Mervyn Silva lashed out
at elements attempting to erase the memory of the war victory from the
public mind, on the grounds the war victory was achieved a long time
ago.
“Some persons say saving the country from terrorism and ending the
war is an old story. I would like to ask them whether they stop alms
givings and cease bestowing merits for their dead parents merely because
they died a long time ago and is not valid and required now,” Minister
Mervyn Silva queried in an interview with the Daily News. He said people
celebrate birth, death and wedding anniversaries. The minister
questioned whether they stop those traditions saying that it is a long
time ago now and there is no need to celebrate them. “Sri Lanka has a
rich culture. It is based on the village, the temple, the tank and the
Dagaba (Chethiya). That is why people worship the Boodhiya, etc. That is
why people keep the pictures of Princes Hemamala and Prince Dantha in
their homes. People should keep a picture of President Rajapaksa along
with those pictures,” he said.
Minister Silva said accusations and protests in the country these
days in connection with various issues show how democratic the
government is. “The government has allowed anybody to conduct any
protest or rally anywhere in the country and express any view on
anything. Unlike during the UNP regime, there are no barriers to conduct
protests. This is due to the democratic nature of the UPFA government,”
he said.
“We do not like to see the Opposition getting destroyed. The
President wants to see a united and strong Opposition. Even our
indigenous people are divided into two groups now. It is those who get
paid by foreign countries who create these divisions,” he said.
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