Sri Lanka is undergoing a very critical period in its history, having launched a humanitarian operation to free the country from LTTE terrorism.
The LTTE movement has shattered the peace and unity of the country, caused division among communities, and held back the country’s economic development. Sri Lanka has not progressed as other developing countries in the world have, despite the fact that we have bountiful human and natural resources.
We all know that an internal or external war is detrimental to a country in almost every way, while causing great suffering to the people. More than any other country in the world, Sri Lanka has suffered greatly from its war experience, a war that has dragged on for three decades.
Therefore, now, as Sri Lankans, we owe it to our Motherland to unite and extend a helping hand to the government in its laudable initiative to end the war and rebuild the country, with an emphasis on the displaced people who live in temporary camps set up in government-controlled areas.
We are sure the government has a sustainable programme to help restore the morale, confidence and well-being of the displaced Tamil civilians. This programme will also mark the beginning of a new chapter in their lives. They need no longer fear being subjected to the LTTE will and exploited by the LTTE leaders who, at the expense of the others, have led lives of luxury while innocent civilians faced starvation and untold misery.
At last the international community is opening its eyes wide to the atrocities the LTTE has committed against their own people. Right now, the LTTE is forcibly holding back several thousand civilians and making them a human shield in the safe zone, a small stretch of land in the north-eastern of Sri Lanka.
We are hopeful the war will end soon and that the trapped civilians will escape the grip of the LTTE. This is where we need international assistance, especially from the UN and other humanitarian organisations – to free the civilians from the LTTE, who are on the verge of defeat.
We are aware that the government and patriotic movements are waging another “war” against anti-Sri Lanka propaganda being fed to the international community by pro- LTTE organisations, individuals, hired hands, the BBC and certain dubious NGOs, especially those with headquarters based in European countries.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s programme to rid the country of the menace of LTTE terrorism is being praised by the international community, including the UN.
Those of us born and bred in this country should be helping our Motherland. We should extend our fullest co-operation to the government. This is not a time to think of political parties and affiliations and individuals.
Sri Lanka is at a crucial junction in its history. By supporting the government and getting together as a proud and united nation, we can send a positive message to the confused international community, which is being misled by warlike elements all over the world.
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