Terrorists have learnt bitter lesson - Defence Spokesman

Rohan Mathes and Asela Kuruluwansa

KANDY:Defence Spokesman and Minister Keheliya Rambukwella yesterday asserted that following futile attempts for a negotiated settlement in the ethnic crisis for 30 long years, the terrorists have now learnt bitter lessons and got a response in the language they understand best.

Minister Rambukwella made this assertion in Kandy when he made an inspection tour of the Kandy City Centre Shopping Complex, a project under the Board of Investment.

The project built at an estimated cost of Rs 800 million, would be owned by the Kandy Property Finance and Investments (Pvt) Ltd. He claimed that the Armed Forces have captured Pooneryn and were now rapidly advancing towards Kilinochchi. The Armed Forces are now just 9 km off Paranthan.

Yesterday, they have advanced 1.2 km from Muhamalai, he added.

He said peace could only be attained by a round table conference of negotiation or on its failure, the only other available alternative was to resort to a military victory.

Having consistently failed in the former, the Government has now indulged in the latter.

Having a leader of the calibre of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, a man who identifies Apeykama (our own identity and values), is a great victory for our Motherland, Minister Rambukwella said.

He pointed out that although any man in this world should have the ability of visiting our country sans fear nor suspicion, this right had been long denied. Nonetheless, by the victories already achieved by our gallant Armed Forces, and with the total eradication of terrorism, we could expect a renaissance in the country soon. Ministers Sarath Amunugamma and Susil Premjayanth also spoke.