Eradication of terrorism only path to peace - Gotabhaya

Ranil Wijayapala in Trincomalee

TRINCOMALEE: The country can achieve permanent peace only through defeating terrorism 100 per cent militarily, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said yesterday in Trincomalee.

"We cannot establish permanent peace in the country by winning only half or two thirds of the war against terrorism," Defence Secretary Rajapaksa said addressing the gathering at the Eastern Naval Headquarters in Trincomalee.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa was the chief guest at the ceremony which was held to receive the salute from the Navy men who returned to the Trincomalee harbour after their Naval operation destroying three LTTE ships in the deep seas.

The Defence Secretary said President Rajapaksa cannot implement the desired political solution for the North and East conflict unless LTTE terrorism was defeated 100 per cent.

He said LTTE terrorism can be defeated by military means and the Security Forces are committed to achieve that task without passing the burden of war to the next generation.

He said the Security Forces have now been able to confine LTTE terrorism and LTTE leader Prabhakaran only to the Wanni with the liberation of the East.

"If we are aware that LTTE terrorism exists only in the Wanni there is no hesitation on our part about the next step," the Defence Secretary said.

He said President Rajapaksa amidst economic constraints the country was facing has given all that is required for the Security Forces and the Police to achieve their task of defeating LTTE terrorism.

He said the Government is ready to provide what is required to the public even amidst difficulties according to the mandate it has received.

The Defence Secretary said the Security Forces have shown deep commitment in safeguarding the sovereignty of the country amidst various difficulties and call on the public to make sacrifices in the name of their motherland in its endeavour of defeating terrorism.

He also admired the role played by the Navy in protecting the territorial waters braving LTTE suicide attacks and appreciate the task achieved by them after conducting operations in deep seas some 1400 miles away from the shore.