This vision has come true

The road from Mavil Aru to Mullaitivu, had been long and arduous. There had been occasional reverses, sometimes costly but the military momentum was never dented. The security forces impelled by the unswerving political will of the President and directed by an elite team of professionals headed by the Secretary Defence and the Service Commanders have finally triumphed.

Unlike under previous wavering governments, the mandate given by the President to the Security Forces this time was clear and precise; to destroy the terrorists - to give no quarter to a demented breed who in the guise of speaking for the Tamil people were attempting to work out their own megalomaniacal agenda and thus to effect the liberation of the North and the East of the island.

The military effort despite pronouncements to the contrary has therefore become part and parcel of the final solution.

From Thimpu to Geneva and Oslo, the GOSL had been hoodwinked by the LTTE and made to be at the butt end of scorn and humiliation. A terrorist organization had attempted to dictate terms to a nation well heeled in democracy.

Today the nation salutes these heroes of the "Liberation". Even those who had at one time considered the CFA sacrosanct are now vociferous in their priase of the government’s stunning achievement against all odds. "Even the ranks of Tuscany could scarce forbear to cheer"!

All those associated with this noble and patriotic achievement from dauntless President to valiant soldier have etched their names in the indelible canvas of history.

Winning the Peace - some Sobering Thoughts

It is not the intention of the writer to provide a blueprint for peace. However it behoves us as citizens of this island to be mindful of certain vital concerns if peace is not to be a mirage.

The writ of the GOSL should run through the entire length and breadth of the island. The island’s security should be the foremost consideration. Security should not be compromised by prevarication or appeasement under any circumstance as had been the pattern many a time before. Therefore terrorism and other centrifugal attempts should not be tolerated. Economic development, education and the fostering of the arts can only take place on a firm security base. Otherwise our efforts in that direction would be no more than pouring water into a sieve.

The misguided concept of "traditional homelands" should be discarded for good. Sri Lanka has to be the common home of all its people.

Hence it is a paramount requirement that there should be no discrimination whatsoever against any ethnic community. The deplorable events of July ‘83 should never be repeated. The wellbeing of all ethnic communities is a non negotiable factor.

Finally all ethnic communities should be encouraged to look inwards towards each other without gazing with longing beyond our shores.

The Security Forces have accomplished their mandate. Now our President has a golden opportunity to heal the nation’s wounds. This calls for a concerted effort as "a single wheel cannot move a chariot" - Kautilya. Thus all should rally under the inspiring leadership of the President to bring peace and prosperity to Sri Lanka.