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Our self proclaimed patriots are obviously busy with pasting posters,
waging protests on various issues and even in engaging constant futile
campaigns of discrediting the honest work of the Government and the
Armed Forces.
The Cease Fire Agreement, which was secretly discussed and signed
with the terrorists by Ranil Wickremesinghe without the consent of other
political parties, and in general, the people of Sri Lanka has no legal
basis; but it has wrapped up Sri Lanka on a silver plate and was donated
to Prabhakaran by Ranil in the hope of achieving peace without
understanding its dire consequences to his own political survival as
well as to the lives of people of Sri Lanka.
It has no legal basis because such agreements concerning the security
of the nation should come from the President, and according to the Sri
Lankan constitution, the Government of Sri Lanka cannot enter into
agreements with terrorists unless it is signed by the executive
president.
The Government of Sri Lanka is not the individual Ranil
Wickremesinghe. Therefore, any protest demanding the removal of the CFA
is meaningless in terms of the Sri Lankan laws.
Nevertheless, the government has shown ample evidence that it is
already acting in protecting the lives of all people of Sri Lanka.
Now, even if the Government expresses its unwillingness to abide by
the conditions of the CFA, it would be disadvantageous to the Government
more than it would do harm to the LTTE.
It would be something like the divorcing of a woman by her husband.
There would be many foreign husbands for this divorced wife even if she
is the worst of all women. This blunder of Ranil cannot be reversed in
the face of the international arena.
By tearing the CFA agreement would not revert the LTTE back to an un
recognised organisation again. You cannot re-establish the already
establish reputation which is good or bad.
This means that Ranil actually had caused permanent damage to Sri
Lanka, and it is quite unfair for anyone to put the blame or
responsibility for removing it on Rajapaksa.
He did not signed it and we should ask the man who sign it to do
whatever he can to send the LTTE back to the Vanni.
However, it seems that purpose of sticking to CFA even though it is
now defunct is to show the Government’s willingness to solve the ethnic
problem through dialogue.
Therefore, it means that if the Government abolishes the CFA, however
it is not legal, it would amount to a declaration of the government’s
unwillingness to solve the ethnic issue through peaceful means.
This could seriously tarnish the image of Sri Lankans in the eye of
an international observer. Our so called patriots know this, but are
misleading the public in order to gain a political stepping stone to
reach another political stage which can be used to belittle the
Government.
Any attempt to gather the peoplearound any organisation through
improper, dishonest or cunning ways does not work in the long run as the
truth lasts long and not all citizens in Sri Lanka are dummies.
Rather than becoming busy with pasting posters, futile strikes and
fasting unto death campaigns, the so called patriots, if they are real
patriots, should rally the people to remove the internationally wanted
terrorist Prabhakaran from the LTTE and demand support for this cause
from the international community who have some interest in the Sri
Lankan peace process.
The mountain of evidence that shows the atrocities of the LTTE’s
leadership ranging from forced baby soldiers to kidnapping of innocent
young women, men and even senior people for various parts of the links
of the LTTE terror machine is quite enough to convince any international
observer that why the LTTE leader should be removed as soon as possible,
and it holds the key to the beginning of a lasting peace.
Documented facts including certified authentic videos of abductions
and slavery practice of the LTTE should be collected and presented to
the U.N. for its support.
What organisation other than the Government of Sri Lanka, under the
leadership of our first honest President Mahinda Rajapaksa made real
fruits of the peace? We, the citizens already know!
Local and foreign organisations, including the SLMM are blind to the
mountain of evidence of kidnapping of innocent civilians by the LTTE’s
leader and to the common business of present day slavery of the LTTE and
other foreign and local elements.
All peace loving people should feel responsible for establishing
peace and liberating the poor people from slavery!
All peace loving countries and genuine international organisations
that call for peace should contribute to it by actions rather than
sending empty soap bubbles into Sri Lankan environment.
May God protect our President and our citizens from all kinds of
terror!
JAY DESHABANDU - China - via email
I read with much interest the news item published in the Daily News
of February 16 under the above caption.
When I read this news item, I felt very pity and disheartening about
the facts stated by Sripathi Suriyaarachchi being a brave and
intelligent politician who is having a luxurious life in the Western
Province.
I would like to ask the former Minister how many times he has visited
the Eastern province in order to look into the requirements of the
people living there as a politician.
He is happily living in the well-guarded Western Province shell,
always prepared to hide himself when there is a disaster or danger like
a tortoise.
The Armed Forces are performing their duties to the best of their
capabilities with the limited facilities available under the hot sun
sacrificing many things as well as their lives.
I presume Sripathi Suriyaarachchi like a baby is not aware what is
Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, ammunition, landmines and terrorism. He
is under the impression that all these forces are functioning for his
personal protection.
The Security Forces had taken every effort to chase away the LTTE
terrorists from the civilian areas in Vakarai in order to protect and
re-settle the civilians in their native villages. The LTTE terrorists
had deserted the Vakarai area when they became aware that the Armed
Forces were advancing.
P. W. K. PATHIRANA - Nugegoda
A great deal of annoyance and inconvenience is caused to bus and
train commuters at theDematagoda Station point because these bus drivers
take the Baseline Road flyover to avoid the delay at the Dematagoda
Station Level Crossing.
Bus commuters who need to get off at the Dematagoda Station to take
the train are dropped off at the end of the fly over and have to walk
back 1/8th mile to the station and train commuters too who get off at
the Dematagoda Station are unable to take advantage of this service.
Also conductors warn commuters from halts prior to the flyover that
they won’t take commuters to Dematagoda Station. When commuters unaware
of this situation protest, heated arguments and abuse are hurled at
them. There are also other route buses that take the fly-over when it
suits them.
This 135 route service plies between Kohuwala and Kelaniya. Recently,
the SLTB extended the service to Nedimala which is a boon to commuters,
but this service is not regular.
At least three SLTB buses should serve this route between 7.00
a.m.-8.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m.-6.00 p.m. being rush hour time.
I trust the authorities will instruct the Police to install ‘No
entry’ boards for buses at the approaches to the fly-over and warn
drivers and conductors not to inconvenience commuters having paid the
correct fare.
MELVILLE PERERA – Kohuwala
A few months ago I read in the papers about the Dehiwela-Mt Lavinia
Municipal Council’s tenders,calling for concreting Roberts Road and some
other roads. As a person using Roberts Road, which was rugged with
pot-holes here and there, I was very happy that it was getting a
permanent repair at last.
But again it was done by patching up the holes with tar and covering
with a layer of crushed granite. This covering has made it so
inconvenient for those using this road as dust is raised whenever
vehicles go on it and the passers-by are suffocated with dust. As a
result, many have developed respiratory problems.
Moreover, this road repair will not last long as pot-holes will soon
appear. It is a wastage of public funds to repair roads in this manner.
It is a pity that the relevant authorities repair the roads well, so
that it will stand a long time.
Some of the high officials in the Dehiwela Municipal Council have
seen good roads in other countries during their visits to them.Why don’t
these officers think of improving roads in their own country?
Before the Provincial Council elections, candidates talked of a
pleasant and beautiful town of Dehiwela, that was to be set up soon. But
it is limited to words and not deeds. May be it is a misfortune of the
residents living in the town of Dehiwela.
KUMUDUNI WICKRAMARACHCHI - via email |
