Letter

Tribute to architect of victory

The nation is paying the highest possible tribute this week to the gallant men and women of our Armed Forces, Civil Defence Force and Police for their resounding victory against the LTTE. The declaration of the week May 11-18 as the Ranaviru Week by the Government is praiseworthy.

As a nation we need to recognize the tremendous sacrifice made by those men and women who stood up to protect Sri Lanka. Not long ago large swathes of the island's North and East and a good portion of the seaboard were under the exclusive control of separatist terrorists. A parallel administration was running in the North with its own law courts, Police and even banks.

External pressure bore heavily on the government to bow down to the separatists in the mistaken belief that the LTTE was invincible. The country was on the verge of falling apart. It is at this very critical time of our history that the Armed Force rose to save the nation from disintegration. Today we are safe and get about with life as happy citizens of a free and united nation. We salute and honour those who made it possible. Let us not forget them.

Poor is the nation that has no heroes

Shameful is the nation that have them and forgets them

Among the many who gave leadership and direction to the Armed Forces, Police and the Civil Defence Force to achieve victory, there is one individual who stood out as a shining - Icon of Dedication, Commitment and Sacrifice. This writer contributed a short essay to Daily News April 9, 2007 under the caption - Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa - An Icon of Dedication Commitment and Sacrifice to the Nation. At this moment when the nation is paying tribute to the Armed Forces, Police and the Civil Defence Force, let us not forget the architect of victory - Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.

This is the man who stood against all Nay Sayers and believed that the LTTE should be and could be militarily defeated. Since taking office as Defence Secretary in November 2005 he began planning for a military campaign. Peace talks were continuing, but he was convinced that the LTTE was heading towards the creation of Eelam. While the political authority headed by his elder sibling the President pursued the political option, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa did his part as the nation's principal defence official in preparing the military for war.

He wasted no time after assuming duties and took stock of the status of the Armed Forces and directed the service chiefs to recruit, reequip and train the military. The intelligence apparatus both local and overseas were reorganized. He read the LTTE's mind set accurately and by early 2007 had the military ready for battle. In late June 2007, the LTTE made a fatal error by closing the Mavil Aru Anicut. The Secretary convinced the government that the LTTE had to be taken on. And what started as a Water War in Mavil Aru in the Easter Province ended in the watery mangroves of Nanthikadal of the Northern Province on May 18, 2009 with a convincing military victory. We the people of Sri Lanka are proud of the victorious Armed Forces, the Police and the Civil Defence force and congratulate them on the occasion of the Ranaviru Week.

The nation salutes the architect of victory, Defence Secretay Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.

Chandraguptha SMUDANNAYAKE - Boralesgamuwa