AS ALL KINDS of buildings, belonging to northern people in areas under Security Forces Headquarters, Mullaittivu (SFHQ-MLT), are now being vested back in legal owners under government’s ‘Uthuru Wasanthaya’ (Northern Spring) programme, Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Secretary Defence, accompanied by Chief of Defence Staff, Commander of the Army, Commander of the Navy and the Inspector General of Police on Monday (21) visited Mullaittivu and took stock of security requirements in the area.
Mr Rajapaksa during the tour explored possibilities of using China made pre-fabricated constructions for location of new security formations in the area since all private buildings, hitherto used by Security Forces are in the process of being given back to their owners.
Earlier on the day, Mr Rajapaksa as part of the day’s main programme, met a cross section of the senior Army and Navy Commanders and Police authorities serving in Divisions, Brigades and the District during a specially-organized conference at SFHQ-MLT where he gave instructions to the IGP to open six more new Police Stations in the area while stressing the need to promote civil-military relations as the normalcy has now been restored. Major General Prasanna Silva presented a brief introductory account at the outset of the meeting. Chief of Defence Staff, Army and Navy Commanders and the IGP were also in attendance.
Later on, a gathering of more than 2000 personnel of the Tri-services and the Police serving the district sat at SFHQ-MLT complex awaiting the address of the Secretary Defence, the Chief Guest on the occasion. Major General Prasanna Silva welcomed the delegation and invited the Secretary Defence for the address.
In order to build bridges between Tamil people and Security Forces, it is imperative that the Police be now allowed to take reins in relation to law and order in Mullaittivu district on a methodical basis, letting the Army troops take positions under a new defensive plan, yet to see the light of the day, Mr Rajapaksa told the gathering.
‘With the goodwill and the unstinted support of the Tamil people, we must work jointly to defeat all LTTE attempts of resurrection and regrouping as some of the hardcore LTTE men, both here and abroad, were still trying hard to revive the defeated outfit and spread cycle of terrorism once again’, Mr Rajapaksa reminded.
Paying a glittering tribute to the service personnel who have hitherto perished or become disable or gone on retirement while fighting this terrorist menace since 1970s, he told the gathering that their sacrifices and dedication should not be belittled or forgotten by all of us. They all must be remembered with honour for their commitment and dedication on the road to the win over terrorism. Some of those service personnel were brutally butchered and in certain instances even left covered in sand by terrorists. We all have to be alert to various international conspiracies, by which terrorism was trying to raise its ugly head again. We need to harness Tamil people’s cooperation to nip such developments in the bud. It is therefore significant for us to promote our goodwill and civil-military relations in order to avoid recurrence of such destructive forces, Mr Rajapaksa underlined.
Touching the question of strengthening security in Mullaittivu, Mr Rajapaksa added that plans are afoot to protect dense jungle patches, without letting them fall prey again to anti-social elements in the future. During his speech to the service and Police personnel, he also highlighted the importance of preserving our natural habitat and environment, particularly when trying to set up new security establishments.
As the last leg of his tour, Mr Rajapaksa inspected the new location, earmarked for establishment of the new 59 Division Headquarters, about 4 km away from the existing SFHQ-MLT.
Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa was received by Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya upon his arrival at SFHQ-MLT, along with Major General Prasanna Silva, Commander SFHQ-MLT and conducted him to inspect the Guard Turn-Out. A Guard of Honour, accorded by Gajaba Regiment troops at SFHQ-MLT saluted him as part of the military tradition. Mr Rajapaksa also planted a mango sapling at the SFHQ-MLT complex to signify his visit to the headquarters.
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