| Most
Ven. Members of the Maha Sangha,
Honoured Members of the Clergy,
Hon. Prime Minister, Hon. Speaker, Ministers and Members
of Parliament
The Hon. Chief Justice and Members of the Judiciary,
Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Service Commanders and the Inspector General of Police,
Brave soldiers,
Honoured Members of the Ranaviru (War Hero) Families,
Government Officers,
Mothers, Fathers, Friends
My Dear Children
I am greatly honoured at being given
the opportunity of meeting with you on this proud occasion.
I accept this honour with all humility, expressing the
gratitude of the Sri Lankan State to the great heroes
of war who have brought hope and glory to the entire
country.
The glorious chapter that begins with the communications
presented to me as the custodian of the State by the
Service Commanders will be etched in gold in the annals
of our history. Never before have we had the opportunity
to make the proud and satisfying declaration as it is
announced today that the demonic forces of terror who
for several decades had robbed the freedom of the Sinhala,
Tamil and Muslim people who lived in the fertile lands
of the East of our motherland, have been completely
driven away.
This blessed land will forever cherish, protect and
value the fruits of the brave and courageous operation
conducted by the Sri Lankan Security Forces to bring
liberation to the people of the East; who for more than
two decades were held hostage by the forces of vicious
and violent terrorism. For many centuries the memory
of this feat will inspire generations to come.
That this operation against terrorism
was concluded with minimum harm to the people and least
harm to the Security Forces stands out as an example
of such action to all armies of the world that battle
terrorism.
I observed some criticism of this
victory. It said this was the majority race trampling
on the minority race. Majority – minority? I do
not like this interpretation. We are the Sri Lankan
Nation. It is the Tamil and Muslim people in the East
who together that paved the way for the National Flag
to be hoisted at Thoppigala.
I do not wish to describe the defeat inflicted on the
LTTE as a purely military victory. There is in this
victory something more, which is of larger national
and international significance.
Friends,
There is no country other than Sri Lanka, where the
criminal act of conceding a legal area of control to
terrorists has been implemented through an agreement.
It is the debunking of the myth of such an area of control,
and the shattering into smithereens of the crowning
terrorist fantasy of Eelam that our brave soldiers who
captured Thoppigala have announced loud and clear to
the entire world.
That is not all. The East was considered the least developed
region of our country. By being subject to the forces
of terror, the fertile lands of the East and its enterprising
people were handicapped both economically and socially.
They were disadvantaged politically and culturally,
too. Our children who covered their heads with hijab
or placed a “pottu” on their forehead as
well as Sinhala children were deprived of their right
to education.
Dear Friends,
Can you imagine your children of 12 or 14 years carrying
weapons of war? Certainly you cannot? Yet, the reality
in the North and East is that. What these children received
in place of their books and crayons were the guns, ammunition,
bombs and the cyanide capsules of the LTTE. Now, let
us all join hands to build the future world of these
children.
I believe with optimism that our
international friends would help us in this task. Friends,
please come to the East.
Similarly, I wish to ask the international
community and even some of our own politicians, not
to obstruct this New Dawn of the East by raising false
slogans, and not engage in globe-trotting to betray
the Sri Lankan State.
If there are shortcomings let us get together and criticize
them. It is alright slighting Mahinda Rajapaksa. But
do not betray the country.
The safeguarding of human rights is our primary responsibility.
It is no secret that throughout my life I have stood
consistently for human rights. However, one must understand
clearly the difference between human rights and terrorist
activities. Do not confuse the two.
We also see an attempt to bury the victories of our
troops by insulting them or leveling serious charges
against them. Today, we see attempts by some who try
to hide their own “stripes” by insulting
the Maha Sangha.
Is Thoppigala a forest? Or is it a sanctuary? How many
tanks did it have? How many houses? How many trees were
there to an acre? Such questions are only important
to cartographers. Please do not look at this victory
with envy or jealousy. This is neither a victory of
the State nor my personal victory.
This is not a personal victory of the Defence Secretary
or the Service Commanders. Some who think so are engaged
in insane prattle.
Dear friends,
This is a people’s victory. I invite the Leader
of the Opposition not to be an outsider but to be a
stakeholder in this victory. No matter that I am insulted
or members of my family are insulted. We will bear it
with patience. But do not insult our Security Forces.
Do not belittle or underestimate our Security Forces.
It is with the sacrifice of life and limb that they
have won these victories for our motherland.
The day we leave politics, our conscience will ask us
what we have given to our children. Is it a colony or
a heavily fractured country?
No, friends, we will gift our children
with a land they will be proud to live in.
Let us bequeath to them a land where
Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims can live together and
smile as the children of one mother.
What we seek to achieve through the All Party Representative
Conference is to bring together the diverse views of
political parties to find a political solution to the
North East crisis. Please do not delay this any further.
I make a public appeal to all political parties to kindly
present their proposals with speed. Do not delay this
any further. Please come together, discuss and reach
agreement, and give us a single final solution.
We should formulate a suitable framework
to bring the Tamil speaking people more into the process
of political power. We should be sensitive and responsive
to the genuine grievances of the people in the North
and East.
We should not be prejudiced against
anyone in our society by the fact of their being Tamil
or Muslim.
Similarly, the LTTE should even now
accept the reality that it is not possible to bring
liberation to the Tamil people through guns, bombs and
cyanide capsules. What they destroy is the future of
Tamil children. They destroy the future of the children
of our country. What they demolish is their own culture.
However dreadful, I will not be subdued or frightened
by the violent growls of the LTTE. I will not be shaken
by their threats of assassination. I am bound by conscience
to fulfill my duties and obligations by the country.
Now, did the people in the Eastern Province enjoy their
basic right to vote? The civic rights of these innocent
people were usurped for 15 years. We are returning these
usurped rights to the people. We will take steps to
conduct the Provincial and Local Government Elections
in the East by the end of this year. By this time we
will give the people of the East their sovereign right
to elect their representatives to the Provincial Council
and Local Government bodies. Those who engaged in election
malpractices throughout history will shout this time
too, as if frightened by a nightmare.
Not only the right to vote, we are
confident that the day is not far when the Eastern Province
would prosper with more electricity, highways, buses,
hospitals and new industries.
Economic freedom is as important as freeing territory.
We expect to launch an all out development war, throughout
the country, giving priority to agriculture. I expect
this economic war to bring back economic prosperity
denied to the country.
Friends,
We have no desire to enter history as a popular politician.
It is sufficient for me to be remembered in history
as a trustee and protector of this country, its people,
all its fauna and flora. I wish that history would remember
me as a Sri Lankan who was in politics, not for elections
but to serve the country. That will be the highest honour.
In conclusion, My Dear Friends, I wish to identify the
Thoppigala victory as the symbol of the aspirations
and determination of the people who truly love our motherland.
It is with the warmest of friendship
that I recognize and appreciate the strength and courage
given in this task by the working people, in silence,
and amidst great difficulties; without strikes and other
disruptions.
Brothers and Sisters, this is the victory of your patience.
The vast majority of the media in
our country discharged their responsibility as a vanguard
in this battle. Friends, the Government is with you
at heart.
Whatever problems they have, what our innocent people
sought was an undivided country; an honourable peace.
Citizens, this is your victory.
Similarly, all political parties
that unconditionally stand to protect the Government
now become stakeholders in this victory.
My Dear Friends who speak the Tamil language, I know
that you value peace more than a war waged even on the
most reasonable grounds. We all value this. I know you
value peace more than an abundant meal. Therefore, I
express my deepest regrets for that tearful history
which was thrust upon you. Therefore again, it is with
deep emotion that I have accepted the great responsibility
for your future and that of your children.
As much as the New Dawn in the East lights up the lives
of the innocent people of the East, I am convinced this
light would cause the historic brotherhood among the
Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims to sprout fresh shoots
and thrive. Hence, make use of this victorious moment
as one that changes the recent history of Sri Lanka.
I call upon you with deep emotion and responsibility
to resolve to live together in unity and fraternity
among all races and religions.
May the Triple Gem bless you!
May all deities protect you! |
