COLOMBO: Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has made a statement in Parliament yesterday stating that “the nation’s security must be ensured by having competent people in charge of national defence”. He has also levelled several allegations on the government and challenged its capacity to protect the civilians, states Minister of Mass Media and Information Anrua Priyadarshana Yapa in a press release.
“The release adds: the whole country is aware whether the security is in the hands of competent people or not, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Army Commander General Sarath Fonseka and others have been so successful in the offensive against terrorism and the campaign to assist the people in the North and East to break away from the vice-like grip of ruthless terrorists, the LTTE has used suicide cadres in its attempt to assassinate them.”
Mr. Wickremesinghe is silent on the most important issue of how did the LTTE become strong during the 2002-2004 period and how the unchecked cargo was allowed to go to the LTTE held areas in the North enabling them to assemble aircraft. An aircraft part was even found in a ship owned by an UNP MP which was plying between Colombo and Kankasanthurai”.
“The LTTE did not even give a breathing space to the new Government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa from November 19, 2005. An LTTE claymore explosion killed six soldiers on December 4, 2005, the day before the new Army Commander General Sarath Fonseka assumed duties. Another 8 solders were killed two days later. On December 22 and 23, 2005 16 naval personnel were killed in two separate attacks.”
“The list is endless and the forces, under the new courageous leadership took defensive and deterrent action and succeeded in weakening the enemy strike power. The LTTE suffered a string of setbacks in the East since their attempt to close down the Mavil Aru sluice gates.
Many areas in Batticaloa including Vakarai, Sampur and Muttur have been cleared of terrorists and steps have been taken to resettle the displaced persons under the Jathika Saviya programme. It is a pity that the advisors to the Opposition Leader have failed to point out these facts to him.”
“When the LTTE is attacking civilian buses and economic targets in desperation, the Opposition Leader instead of supporting the government campaigns and boosting the morals of the Security Forces, is making a pitiful attempt to project the LTTE as an organisation capable of striking targets in the south”.
“It is true that the LTTE made a futile attempt to destroy Air Force fighter aircraft such as MIGs and Kfirs. The attempt was a total failure and the Forces have taken adequate steps to face future attacks.”
“I urge the Opposition Leader Mr. Wickremesinghe and other spokespersons of the UNP to extend their co-operation in this national endeavour against terrorism instead of trying to subvert the strategy of the Security Forces.”
“I can only express my disgust over the way that Mr. Wickremesinghe is trying to give oxygen to a terrorist outfit that is on its last legs. I accept that the Opposition Leader’s strategy should be to grab power.
Specially after losing 14 elections and failing to keep the Deputy Leader and some of the most competent leaders in the party who joined the Government to strengthen the President. But it should not be at the cost of the Nation, and not at the cost of the valiant Security Forces or at the cost of innocent masses of the country.”
“In a crucial juncture, such as present, it is the responsibility of all leaders of national political parties to strengthen the hands of the Government in its campaign to defeat terrorism and fulfil the aspirations of the Tamil people in the North and East instead of resorting to rhetoric in a desperate attempt to get political advantages for self-centred objectives.
“Mr. Wickremesinghe is also talking about democracy and a political settlement. The Government is totally committed to a negotiated political solution. In fact, the APRC is in the process of completing its draft proposals,” Minister Yapa’s statement concludes.
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