We do not consider the victory over terrorism as a defeat over the Tamil community - Mahinda Rajapaksa

Hilary Rajakarunanayake, Editor – Sri Lanka, Asian Tribune

Colombo, 19 May, (Asiantribune.com): In future no one will be called minorities in Sri Lanka. Tamils, Muslims, Sinhalese and Malays – all of them are hereafter Sri Lankans and enjoy equal rights in Sri Lanka, declared President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Whilst addressing the Sri Lanka Parliament and reporting the conclusion of the war against Terrorism in Sri Lanka, he categorically told that the victory over terrorism is not a victory over the Tamil community. He pointed out that Tamils are brothers with whom the Sinhalese lived together for centuries.

Sri Lanka President addressed the unicameral Parliament at the ceremonial opening of its session at 9.30 am on Tuesday and made the important announcement on the defeat of the LTTE, freeing all civilians held hostage by it, liberating the entire country from terrorism and the of the future programme of development of the country.

"We do not consider the victory over terrorism as a defeat over the Tamil community who are our own brethren, with whom we have lived together for centuries. We have to now find a political solution to all the problems faced by the Tamils in our country. We cannot give this on a platter, but we have to work it out with their help. We do not want any foreign solutions. We can iron out solutions on our own with joint consultation and consensus with the Tamil community.

In future we will not consider any people in our country as minorities. They are all Sri Lankans, whether they are Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim or Burgher or Malay. There will be only two types of Sri Lankans. Those who love their land of birth, and those who do not love their native land".

This was the thrust of the speech made to the Sri Lanka Parliament by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, this morning, to officially announce to the country the victory in the 30 year war with the LTTE, who had carved out a land area of 15000 sq. kilometers defying the jurisdiction of the Sri Lanka Government.

"When I assumed office as President, the Tigers had taken control of one fourth the land mass and two third of the sea surrounding Sri Lanka. They were running their own courts of law, and their own banks. They had their own ships, planes, submarines and sophisticated modern weaponry. They didn’t have only a Parliament of their own. But today we have liberated our country from the yoke of the ruthless Tigers. Every inch of this land will be ruled by legislation passed by this Parliament.

In my presidential manifesto, -'Mahinda Chinthanaya,' I had stated that I will not allow separatism, or any force to destroy democracy. I also vowed that I shall always uphold human rights and will not tolerate the harassment on any community.

Even some powerful nations knelt before the LTTE. They had risen up like a vicious serpent, running drug deals and practicing extortion of wealth from their own people. We were able to defeat the Tigers because we had one of the most disciplined armies in the world, based on principles of Buddhism.

We shall not allow anybody to betray or sell our land. We will not allow thugs and hooligans to rob our country any longer. We salute all the wives, mothers and fathers and children of those who died in the battles over the years. We have a duty to look after the dependants of the dead and injured soldiers and see to the welfare of their families and their children.

I appeal to the Tamil diasporas spread all over the world to come back to the country of your birth and invest in the North and East to improve and develop it, to enable more Tamil youth to gain gainful employment.

I could not please all shades of opinion of the international community because I had a responsibility cast on me by virtue of my office as President. I had to stick to the promises I made to my people when I was democratically elected to the office.

We have to face another war on the economic front. This is the war for development. We solicit the help of everybody to give a better future for the Tamil community of our country who have undergone untold suffering and hardship under the LTTE.

To serve my country Sri Lanka is my first duty, my second duty and my third duty.

I declare tomorrow 20th a National Holiday to mark the victory over terrorism. "

- Asian Tribune -