I
address you today as a person bound to you closer than
as the Commander- in- Chief of the Armed Forces. I am
now fortunate to sit together with the parents of members
of the armed forces. I am happier about this than being
the Commander-in-Chief.
At this Presentation of Colours you
carry well and bring honour to the glorious name of
the heroic Gajabahu who had an immense commitment to
protecting the independence of our motherland.
The records show that the Gajaba
Regiment was started in 1983. But the history of the
war heroes of this country is longer than that. Although
our Armed Forces consider their beginnings to be in
the last century, it is no secret that you lay claim
to a much longer history. In your faces before me
today I see the faces of our heroic forefathers.
When speaking about the Gajaba Regiment
I must necessarily remember the name of Major General
Vijaya Wimalaratne who began it. Although he has unfortunately
departed from us I have to say that he left behind an
indelible monument. From its inception the Gajaba Regiment
was active in operational areas. In all those occasions
you have performed excellently. I think this was due
to the brave and heroic leadership of Major General
Vijaya Wimalaratne. Therefore, the present leaders of
the Gajaba Regiment too should think of this and emulate
his leadership.
I have personally associated with
the late Vijaya Wimalaratne. I am aware that he engaged
in religious observances before every operation. He
considered all operations as noble missions to rescue
his motherland. The Gajaba Regiment has achieved its
present excellence due to the beginnings and foundation
laid by Major General Wimalaratne.
We are aware of the heroic sacrifices
of the Gajaba Regiment for the independence of this
country. We have never fought to grab a land or a country
of another. Our Armed Forces have never fought against
a community on grounds of race, religion or the colour.
Therefore our Armed Forces can be identified as having
a history of extending their fraternal hand to all communities.
If there are any other armies in
the world with such a history, it will be very few.
You saved a large number of lives
by contributing to relief and nation building during
the last tsunami disaster. Even the LTTE has acknowledged
this. Through such selfless work we can tell to the
world about our humanism. Besides that, when the Sinhalese,
Tamil and Muslim communities were denied water for cultivation
and drinking by closing down the Mavilaru anicut, the
biggest operation undertaken by any army in the world
on behalf of a farming community was by our Armed Forces.
Who can say that your operation to protect the right
to water of over fifty thousand farmers was an operation
launched to destroy an enemy?
Also, when there was a food scarcity
in Jaffna it was the Armed Forces, including you, who
delivered food to the people there and guaranteed their
safety.
You engaged in such humanitarian
operations bearing up the many efforts to provoke you
into bloodshed.
Therefore, the old adage "Ivasana
dana rupu yudayata Jayakodiya" (A people who are
patient carry the banner of victory in the war against
the enemy) is most appropriate for you.
There is another fact that the officers
of our Armed Forces, including you, should keep in mind.
It is that today our Tamil brethren have fallen prey
to terrorism.
Our Tamil friends tell us that the
terrorists allow the Tamil people to open their mouths
only to eat and brush their teeth. The democratic leader
of the Tamil people, Mr. Amirthalingam who was assassinated
by these terrorists, and the other Tamil leader Mr.
Anandasangaree, who has won international
acclaim, have admitted that. The terrorists have killed
and finished off a number of Tamil political leaders.
Many Mayors of Jaffna from Duraiyappah down to Sarojini
Yogeswaran have been the victims of terrorist guns.
Thousands of Tamil intellectuals such as Lakshman Kadirgamar,
Kethees Loganathan, Rajini Thiranagama, and Neelan Thiruchelvam
have been assassinated. Tamil organizations seeking
to enter the democratic stream have been annihilated
like cats and dogs by LTTE terrorists.
A recent Tamil poster says the Tamil
people need have no national enemies so long as the
LTTE is there. That truth is well known to the Tamil
people in their hearts. Once the terrorism is ended
their voice will be heard by the whole world. I believe
that once terrorism is ended in this country the
Tamil people will honestly praise you for your services.
The environment in which Tamil children
are forcefully recruited for war by terrorists should
be ended, and children's rights, especially their right
to education should be guaranteed. In short we are now
required to engage in a battle to give the rights enjoyed
by the children of terrorist leaders to
the children of Tamil people, too. We have to give the
right to have education freely without going to war
that is enjoyed by the children of the leaders of terrorist
organizations, to the children of the ordinary Tamil
people too.
The service rendered by your Regiment
to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity
of our beloved motherland is commendable. There is no
doubt that Officers and Other Ranks currently serving
in the Gajaba Regiment and those who have retired from
the Regiment will be proud about of this
presentation of Presidential and Regimental Colours.
You have maintained your excellence
by observing a high standard of discipline. Success
or decline in any army depends on its discipline. Therefore,
I believe that you would maintain discipline at the
highest level setting an example to all other regiments.
The strength of a group also depends on discipline.
Therefore, on all occasions you should engage in your
activities protecting the human rights of the people
living in the areas of operation, as well. You should
have the capacity to identify the terrorists, separating
them from the ordinary Tamil people. That should be
your discipline.
On this occasion I bestow my honour
and respect to those Officers and Other Ranks who sacrificed
their valuable lives in defence of the sovereignty and
territorial integrity of our nation; to the Officers
and other Ranks injured and disabled, to all Officers
and other Ranks currently serving with
commitment and loyalty.
Officers and other Ranks of the Gajaba
Regiment, the colours presented to you today will be
deposited at the Gajaba Regimental Headquarters and
they will remain there as a testimony to your conspicuous
achievements and the contribution made by you during
the past two decades and more.
The nation will bestow honour on
your Regiment for defending our motherland, and I believe
you will act similarly in the years to come.
I wish you a prosperous future.
Thank you!
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