LankaWeb Weekly Editorial

May 20th 2010
Despite the Weather Gods heaping heavily inclement weather in many parts of the Island and petty superstitions on the part of some that it is a divine sign in disfavour of the Government,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the undeniable fact remains that it is the first anniversary of Sri Lanka’s redemption from the Tamil Tiger ( LTTE) scourgeƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ through the collective efforts of the Armed Forces directed by their able CEO the Hon. President to the day and a hard fought and much deserved victory which has taken over three decadesƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  to acheive needs to be clebrated with all the fanfare! and celebrate the Nation will!
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Sadly throughƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  from one perspective many sacrifices were made both by the armed personnel and civilians alike until the terrorist leadership and its supportives were put down and the evil mendacity of their head honcho was snuffed out permanently together with his closest allies and partners in crime who even as they were being routed attempted to take thousands of innocent civilians hostage and some of the LTTE cowards even mingled with them so as to prevent their being singled out and identifiedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ although some managed to escape to safe havens abroadƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  but to a greater part the ploys of these criminals were thwarted and their efforts mostly wastedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  and today there are many civilians who truly appreciate the manner in which they were given a new lease on life and their freedoms restored to them in the massive liberation effort conducted painstakingly by the Armed Forces which was a delicate and painstaking operation not the massacre some disgruntled sources are attempting to portray it as.
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In the aftermath of this stunning precedent creating destruction of the terrorists in Sri Lanka the landƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ has taken on an air of tranquility and freedom and the populace is in a joyous and festive mood where only just recently it has given a thunderous response of appreciation to the President for his remarkable effort and the victory celebration which took place with a show of military power withƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  tanks and weaponry and all the celebrative trimmings including the the beating ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  marching drums, buglesƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and soldiers in all their finery parading with their proud heads held high past the podium where the top brass including the President took the salute and it was indeed a majestic occasion where the roars of the appreciative crowds that had gathered to witness the celebration said it all and bore testimony to their true ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ sentiments of the mood of the Nation today.

Perhaps this was a celebration which the rest of the world should have viewed objectively, collectively and in unisonƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  rather thanƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  the manner in which some misguidedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  individuals as well asƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Tamil Secessionist fodder fed obdurate World power representatives continue to harp on a themes which isƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ blown out of proportionƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ that the Government instigated civilian casualties during the liberation of the many held to ransom by the terrorists where the Government of Sri Lanka mustƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  feelƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  justfiably annoyed and slightedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ that the due recognition for such a history making effort was not accolladed universally but then the Pragmatic President has taken it all in his stride ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ showing a lot of class as alwaysƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  and seems to have shrugged it all off knowing fully well that this was a victory which Sri lanka totally deserved with no misgivings nor loose ends. Most importantly it was never before accomplished by any other nation in the world and truly something to be proud ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  where negative world opinion needs to be taken with more thanƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ aƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ pinch of salt!
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What is most significant in Sri Lanka today is the return to enjoy her resplendence byƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the manyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ hordes of tourists whereƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  hotels have been virtually booked out and the festive atmosphere is truly felt by all who are privileged to enjoy it as they know the inclement weather will soon go away and the beaches will be accessible as much as the historicƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  and scenic places to visit and the Joi de Vivre one used to associate Sri LankaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  with combined with the meaning of Serendipity as applicable only to this paradisical Isle of ours has truly returned to embrace her and wrap her in a mantle of sublime tranquility and great expectations for the future with much thanks to the person who saw to it that Sri Lanka returned to a normalcy which was unimaginable a few years ago, her proud President and one of the greatest sons of Lanka to whom all Lankans should salute!
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And to those beyond Sri ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Lanka’s fair shores continuing to scheme and plot towards discrediting the Nation on the instigation of a few displaced secession minded individuals in pretence of Governments in Exile and the darker aspect of a resurgence of the LTTE it needs to be said that theirs is a wasted effort where their only sensible direction would be to partake of what Sri Lanka is today~ a mosaic of all citizens despite their ethnicity who have joined hands to maintain the fruits of victory which is their inherant right!
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There is however an issue which needs to be addressedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ thatƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ~there are some whoƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  believe that in the euphoria of celebration the Tamil Community and the various Tamil Parties have notƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ had an extension of warmth and an invitation extended to them to partake of the benefits of the land as sharing individuals in the aftermath of the war against terrorism but perhapsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ it is a misconception where no specialƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ invitation needs to be given to any citizen of the land to join the celebrations andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ be part of what has transpired after the landslide win by the ruling party.
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All parties whether Sinhala, Tamil or Muslim based have every right to extend their support towards the Government and no special invitation should be necessary as it all rests on spontaneity and sincerity.Those who are disgruntled and harbour hidden enmities and animosities through their own actions, rhetoric and past dissent against the Government should be contrite and relent in order to be accepted as part of the Nation and perhaps its Administrative Infrastructure where some of them already have and are reaping the benefits of their choice.

There is absolutely no need to be disgruntled about the lack of encouragement by the Administration to the Tamil Community and their leaders particularly if they once surreptitiuously supported the secessionist cause although a positive move on their part would undoubtedly be accepted by a gracious President and the move to reconcile is theirs with no cajoling.