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Basil: we are winning IC s confidence
Monday, 21 July 2008 - 3:44 AM SL Time
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Basil Rajapaksa, MP, yesterday said the unprecedented rapid pace at which the government had re-settled the internally displaced families in the Eastern Province after the conclusion of major ground operations had subdued misgivings among the international community.
It was an immense task which many had thought was beyond the government s capacity, the National List MP told The Island in a brief interview.
Welcoming the readiness of the international community to support their efforts to revive the Eastern Province, he said the Rajapaksa administration wouldn t disappoint the donors.
He was responding to Opposition criticism of the meetings between representatives of foreign governments and the TMVP and the forthcoming visit to the East by an EU delegation.
There had been many misconceptions about the re-settlement programme. A section of the international community had believed that the government planned to re-settle Sinhalese in the East, he said. `Once, a foreign representative raised this issue with me. He wanted to know whether Vakarai was to be re-settled by the Sinhalese,` he said. `We haven t re-settled a single outsider in the newly liberated area,` he said.
The local government elections in the Batticaloa District in March followed by first election to the Eastern Provincial Council in May (this year) had proved the government s commitment to a lasting solution, he said.
`The political alliance with the breakaway LTTE faction was a courageous decision,` he said. The TMVP successfully contested the Batticaloa MC and the EPC on the government ticket, he said. `It was proof that the government didn t want to place the EP under a military administration.`
`We (UPFA) submitted our nomination papers for the Batticaloa District at the May PC polls in Tamil. It was a simple way of recognizing the value of our relationship with the Tamil community.`
Those who had felt the government programme would be a threat to their agenda finally attempted to pit the Tamils against the Muslims.
Recent meetings between the breakaway LTTE faction (TMVP) and members of the international community and the forthcoming visit to Trincomalee by a high level EU delegation would give a turbo-boost to their efforts. What the TMVP had achieved in a few short months was astonishing, he said, while inviting the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) to join their efforts to re-build the EP. There was absolutely no point in being the mouthpiece of the LTTE, the MP said.
`We met every challenge, every difficulty head-on. Many expected us to fail and collapse under the LTTE and diplomatic pressure,` he said. `Even now some are fervently hoping for an LTTE comeback,` he said.
The influential politician expressed confidence that the government had the strength to finish off Tigers in the Vanni, thereby facilitating restoration of civilian administration in all parts of the country.
He said many were sceptical about the decision to bring Sampur under government control in September, 2006. `They expected us to fail there. Even after we forced the LTTE to abandon the area, they believed the enemy could come back,` he said. The military success at Sampur was repeated elsewhere in the East over the following year until the army launched operations in the Vanni.
At one point during the EP operations, there had been around 200,000 internally displaced with the vast majority being stranded in the Vakarai region, he said. Even before the army brought Thoppigala-Narakkamulla area under their control, the re-settlement of IDPs had been well underway, he said. Today almost 95 per cent of the re-settlement had been finalised and the remaining would be settled as soon as ongoing mine clearing operations come to an end, he said.
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Ruhunu
Joined: Jul 2008
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 20 Jul 2008 22:15:53 GMT Report for Abuse
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Tigers had the upperhand in propaganda in the 80's. So they won a lot of sympathy from the IC on false claims. But late Mr. Kardirgamar started to reverse the wrongs and it seems to have gone well.
Current MR government deserves a lot of credit too in fighting terrorism on all fronts well including the propaganda front.
Edited By - Ruhunu - 20 Jul 2008 22:20:51 GMT |
Damed
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 20 Jul 2008 23:36:27 GMT Report for Abuse
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IC fairly leaning to wards reality.
East going to be a model for MR Government's approach. |
gchula99
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 21 Jul 2008 01:25:39 GMT Report for Abuse
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But late Mr. Kardirgamar started to reverse the wrongs and it seems to have gone well.
Somarama shot and killed Mr.Bandaranayaka but people did not reject Buddhism.It is said that he was a very popular leader at that time.
People only consider about their future in this election. I believe it is a high time for peace loving Sinhalese and Tamils to flock together around RW to show our disappointment toward the current injustices in Public Administration.
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Damed
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21 Jul 2008 01:41:43 GMT Report for Abuse
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Gchula99
people are very tight but they take extremes to support ongoing military advances...if not that MR is already packed.
But things would have changed if RW was not the leader of the Opposition.
MR's economy team is not that bad with all time exaggerating energy bills.
also he has not received the majority to have a small cabinet and hold figures like Dr.Mad. |
Ruhunu
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21 Jul 2008 02:39:00 GMT Report for Abuse
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I believe it is a high time for peace loving Sinhalese and Tamils to flock together around RW to show our disappointment toward the current injustices in Public Administration
Tamils & Sinhalese should flock together and defeat Prabakaran's Terrorism and all supporters of terrorism. Current Admin seems to be doing fine for now given all the challenging issues. |
gchula99
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21 Jul 2008 03:47:27 GMT Report for Abuse
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Current Admin seems to be doing fine for now given all the challenging issues.
What are the current challenging issues?
Cost of living? We are in deep down to our noses and few more inches more wll cause death of thousands.
Hundred of ministers in cabinet ruining the economy.Millions of Rupees expend on their maintenance.
Entangled in never ending war and ripping millions of dollars as commissions. Ex: MIG deal!!No free journalism allowed in the country and Mervin with kudu lal has been released from the lashes to hound free media to terrorize journalists.
If you need further testimony happy to furnish!
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Sam007
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 21 Jul 2008 09:58:47 GMT Report for Abuse
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Ruhunu,
I agree, why should Tamils and Sinhalese flock around Ranil, we should be together and defeat LTTE so we all can live happily. No country in the world has been able to maintain a war and obtain economic growth. So, what we see today in Sri Lanka is the same. it does not mean that the present government is doing an excellent job, but it's marginal. Hope things will be better if the waste is cut down. The question is what will happen if and when the war is over, will all these expenses that we see today for security reasons go away, will people get together and work hard to build the country like how the Japanese did after the 2nd world war? Are we united enough to take that burden and take the country forward so our future generations will live in harmony. |
leelananda
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 22 Jul 2008 12:34:02 GMT Report for Abuse
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| Can see this is true or not from GSP+ issue. For us to IC means west. Until then wait sometime. |
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