Your editorial in The
Island of August 16, 2008 discusses the possible reasons for the
accelerated activity of the LTTE in constructing an airstrip capable of
taking heavy aircraft. Indeed, you seem to have missed a dangerous
possibility of a Kosovo or South Ossetia type intervention by external
forces in a last ditch stand via falsified propaganda blitz by the
terrorists to gain sympathy. God forbid – but the government has to learn
from the experience of the Vadamaarachchi Operation, the rescue of
Prabhakaran and the parippu drop when victory was within sight.
What better way than land within the area of operation than far out and
face attendant problems, difficulties and possible counter measures
however comparatively weak they can be?
The government and its missions abroad have to be on red alert to
counter the false propaganda and this cannot be achieved with friends,
relatives, and hangers-on at the top. Lakshman Kadirgamar had an uphill
task, but succeeded to a great extent having professionalised the Foreign
Service. After his sad and untimely demise, let’s hope we are not back to
square one!
IPCM
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