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President’s address at the ceremonial opening of
parliament:
People’s Victory
Defeat of LTTE will never be the defeat of the Tamil
people:
| There are
only two peoples in this country. One is the people that
love this country. The other comprises the small groups that
have no love for the land of their birth. Those who do not
love the country are now a lesser group. |
| I value
my motherland first, second and third. This should be so to
you and to the entire nation. |
The victory we have gained by defeating LTTE is the victory of this
nation, and the victory of all people living in this country, said
President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing the ceremonial opening of
Parliament yesterday (May 19, 2009) “The defeat of the LTTE and the
breakdown of their armed strength will never be the defeat of the Tamil
people of this country,” he added.
“It is necessary for us to state with great responsibility, that we
do not accept a military solution as the final solution. Similarly, when
we see the sad faces of the people who have been fleeing from the
Puthumathalan area, we can realize that a document offered on a tray as
a political solution could also not be the final solution ... It is
necessary that we find a solution that is our very own, of our own
nation. It should be a solution acceptable to all sections of the
people,” he said.
The President appealed to the expatriates who have left our
motherland due to terrorism, especially the Tamil people, to return. He
specially called upon Sri Lankan engineers, doctors, accountants and
other professions living in various countries, to return to the
motherland and contribute to its development.
Ending terrorism in Sri Lanka means a victory for democracy in the
world. Sri Lanka has now given a beginning to the ending of terrorism in
the world, the President said. Reminding the people that this country
was saved by the blood, eyes, limbs, flesh and lives of our young
people, he said this land cannot be betrayed or allowed to be sold.
“I also extend the honour and gratitude of the nation to Defence
Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the Chief of Defence Staff Air Chief
Marshal Donald Perera, the Army Commander General Sarath Fonseka, Navy
Commander Admiral Vasantha Karannagoda, Air Force Commander Air Chief
Marshal Roshan Gunatilleke, as well as the Inspector General of Police
Jayantha Wickremeratne, and the Director General of the Civil Defence
Force Sarath Weerasekera, who worked tirelessly to give this great
victory to the motherland,” President Rajapaksa added.
“We have been victorious in facing one challenge. Time is now raising
a new challenge before us. It is the challenge of building the
motherland. From now all, everyone should change in keeping with the
needs of facing up to that challenge, too,” he said.
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