Ranaviru Commemoration In New Zealand 2012
Posted on May 19th, 2012
Dr. Chula Rajapakse MNZM Spokesperson, United Sri Lanka Assn. Wellington NZ
For the third consecutive year , on the 19th of May at 6pm NZ time, The United Sri Lanka Association (USLA) hosted the Ranaviru Commemoration day at itƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s official residence at Lak Madura in Tawa Wellington, with USLA President Dr. RanasingheƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Kalupahana presiding and Hon Consul Aruna AbeygoonesekeraƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and wife Hiranthi in attendance, along with about hundred others.
Following the singing of the NationalƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Anthem and the observance of a two minute silence to honor the war heroes ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…”The Ranaviru, for their sacrifices of life and limb, President Kalupahana addressing the audience called on them never to forget these sacrifices that has now secured a free Sri Lanka where any could now travel unrestricted and without fear as he did on his recent travels to make a donationƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ of $5000, to the Ranaviru fund.
Aided by slides he described the long term residential facilities now built to cater for the long term needs of the disabled soldiers. In a moving description he explained how the rooms were designed individuallyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to caterƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to each soldiersƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ respective disabilities, so providing themƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ with maximum independence possible. Located in five locations to provide best access to the families of the soldiers, he showed pictures of the facility in Attidiya. He also described the rehabilitation center at Ragama that now had an artificial limb making facility, so securing a rapid throughput.
Hon Consul Aruna Abeygoonesekera observedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ how New Zealand still remembers their fallen war heroes on the 25thƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ of April, 96 years after the World War 1 and in other conflicts there after including World War 2. He then reminded that today marked the third anniversary of our own remembrance day and that we should neverƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ forget our own warheroesƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ who gave up their lives to preserve the sovereigntyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ of Sri Lanka and the prosperity that has followed there after.
He then observedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ that the LTTE terror group did not represent the aspirations of the average peace loving Tamil people of Sri Lanka and reminded the audience of PresidentƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Mahinda RajapakshaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢sƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ declaration that Sri Lanka was for everyone who identified themselves as Sri Lankans ,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ one country one nation irrespective of ethnicityƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and religious belief and of HEƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s call for reconciliation and harmony among all.
The Hon Consul concluded by acknowledging and applauding the hard work and dedication of the members of USLA in helping to preserve a good image of Sri Lanka and called on them to now to take proactive steps to achieve the referred to, noble ideals set outƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ by PresidentƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Mahinda Rajapaksha.
Dr. Chula Rajapakse USLA spokeperson who followed thereafter, having acknowledged thesupreme sacrifices made by our Ranaviru, remindedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ thatƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the memoryƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ these sacrifices and the fruits of these to Sri Lanka, are being threatened by an internationally orchestrated campaignthat alleged war crimes and human rights violations by the Ranaviru during the last stages of the war. Referring the audience to the USLA website that contained a presentation detailing this campaign, he called on the audiencejoin him in countering these allegations and the threat to Sri Lanka that followed, by first being well informed of the fallacy of these allegations.
He observed that the best rebuttal of these allegations wereƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ contained in theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ film ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…- Lies Agreed UponƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚, easily accessed through googleƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ search of utube, and cameƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in the form of testimonies from about 50 ordinary, free, clearly identified tamil civilians, ever available for verification, representing the three hundred thousand rescued Tamil hostages against whom the human rights violations are alleged to have beenƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ carried out and the witnesses to the war through out this period. All ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ them without exception denied any adversarial action against them by any members of the security forces let alone targeted shooting at them, the war crime ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ alleged, and only had theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ highest praise for the security forcesƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ conduct.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The Vanni MP, who follows also corroborated these fully.
The five doctors , who served in the hospitalsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ denied categorically any targeted shelling of hospitals, the other war crime alleged. However they observed that the LTTEroutinely sighted their heavy weaponry as close as possible to hospitals toexpose them to the danger of collateral damage.
Dr. Rajapakse then informed the audience of the monumental achievement by the government of relocating over 95% of three hundred thousand rescued hostages in their homes having demined these heavily mined areas , barely two and a half years after the end of the rescue operation.
He informed them of the many ethnic reconciliation and rebuilding activities , a 25% annual growth rate in the northern province since the end of the war and the booming tourist trade showing a 30% growth in 2011 recording 850,00 arrivals exceeding target of 750,000, and well on course for two million by 2016.
Once so informed , he called on the audience to disseminate this information especiallyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to their Kiwi friend , which is what mattered most, especially in exposing the fallacy of war crimes allegations.
He also called on them to join him in emailing their members of parliament and the foreign minister to express their concern ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and calling for exercising of surveillanceƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ over,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the fund raising and other activities the Australia & NZ based Trans NationalƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Government of Tamil Elam with 2 MPƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s from NZ, drawn essentially from the former Tiger Diaspora, but now re-named . Their declared aim was securing Tamil ElamƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ &ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ so inimical to Sri Lanka andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ undermining itƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢sƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ efforts at national reconciliation.
Following theseƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ presentations every attendee participated in a ceremony lighting a candle in memory of the war heroes ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” the Ranaviru.
This was followed by a ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-mix and minglingƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ session over a cup of tea prepared by the USLA committee and other well wishers.
Among the ideas generated during this session was making available a symbol like a nationalflower,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ that could be worn on this day and week helping to keep the memory alive and give an opening to talk, justlike the red poppy worn by the KiwiƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s even 96yrs on, on their remembrance day. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
May 21st, 2012 at 7:57 am
Very pleasing news on expatriates coming together to remember the war heroes and to help those who are affected by war related injuries. Another area where the expatiates can help is emphasizing to the government the importance of good governance and social integrity in realizing the wishes of war heroes who sacrificed their lives for a better future for others. Especially they can rely on such experience in their host countries to let the SL government know the importance of social integrity and proper functioning of public institutions like law enforcement for development in all spheres.