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“International Community Slowly But Steadily Realizing Ground Realities Despite Strong Misinformation Campaign” - Minister Prof Peiris

The second day sessions of the ongoing ‘Defence Seminar - 2013’ of the Army, focusing on ‘Regional Stability - Regional Perspective’ got underway at Colombo Galadari Hotel on Wednesday (4) with Minister of External Affairs Prof G.L Peiris and Senior Minister Dr Sarath Amunugama contributing to the sessions on ‘Political and Foreign Relations’ and ‘The Development of Sri Lanka and its Impact on the Stability of the Region’ respectively.

Prof G.L Peiris highlighting the role of armed forces in Sri Lanka as one of the singular strengths of the country’s institutions pointed out that certain interested parties with the ulterior motive of destabilizing these institutions set in motion a very strong misinformation campaign on our Army roles.

“Such misinformation is reflected in the UNHRC report too and the deliberate use of the word ‘intrusive’ for presence of the Army in the north, is inaccurate, unjustified and wrong. This assertion contradicts the OCHA report that they (UN) themselves have prepared in which their own independent surveys, conducted on 197 northern civilians at random, said that they want the Army to be there, considering the extent of humanitarian roles, being performed by them. It was the perception of the people that had been articulated to the OCHA. I note with profound sadness that the UN High Commissioner failed to mention even one word about the UN’s own assessment when she was here. Is the Army fighting against a force or conducting an operation there? This transition in the north could have taken a great deal longer, had the Army not been there to kick off redevelopment. Tremendous efforts, invested by the armed forces for regeneration of their lives in the north or the east, have gone unnoticed. Why is the UN so selective and biased? Why are people crying out against Sri Lanka alone,” Prof Peiris queried.

Adding her observations on ‘expression of grief’ by the visiting UN High Commissioner, Prof Peiris said such condolences should encompass all sections of the victims in the fight against terrorism, be they members of the armed forces, civilians or for that matter LTTE carders. Why is it not done? Mrs Pillay herself defines LTTE as murderous and ruthless, but does otherwise reflecting something different. These are patent contradictions. This is the attitude that has been created by the LTTE now operating in Western capitals.”

“They are now amassing funds with the view to reviving the movement for separatism. Earlier, they owned ships, petrol sheds, aircraft, banks and suchlike as investments, to buy weaponry to be smuggled to Sri Lanka when the armed forces were waging war against them. With that accumulated finances, they are now buying people, information campaign, overseas rump who are prepared to destabilize Sri Lanka now on its recovery path,” he said.

Almost after 25 years, northerners have been able to vote in provincial elections, scheduled in a couple of weeks and that itself is a victory for the people and democracy. All this discrimination against us is done, based on so-called ‘facts’ that had been provided to the UNHRC from ‘anonymous’ sources which are not revealed to us up until today. The Army in the North is playing a humanitarian service and this has not been properly and clearly comprehended by those interested people. However, those perceptions, based on distorted wrong information are slowly but steadily changing among the international community when matters are explained to them,” Prof Peiris told the delegates at the seminar.

Dr Sarath Amunugama, Senior Minister talking on ‘The Development of Sri Lanka and Its Impact on the Stability of the Region’ talked about the geographical position of the country and its phenomenal importance with the dawn of peace and stability to Sri Lanka.

“Today Sri Lanka is one of the safest lands in the world and we have created that safety within three years. There is tremendous transformation that has gone in. We have guaranteed maritime safety for shipping fleet after LTTE Sea Tigers were decimated. In terms of our geographical position, economic prospects for the entire region loom large and as a result next wars would be fought in the seas, instead of land,” Dr Amunugama said.

Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Secretary Defence and Urban Development who attended today’s morning sessions as a distinguished guest was welcomed by the Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake.

At the end of those two speeches of both Ministers, Lieutenant General Ratnayake presented tokens of mementoes to the speakers in appreciation of their contribution to the sessions.