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Address to the nation by Her Excellency the President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, on War Heroes' Day.
Speaking after observing two minutes silence from the steps of the Presidential Secretariat where the country's first National War Heroes' Day to pay tribute to the valiant soldiers fighting to protect the unity and integrity of the country in the North and East was held, she asked members of all political parties to set aside their political goals temporarily and make their commitment to the nation in its hour of need. 'The UNP has shown an optimistic approach towards the Government's peace effort during their talks with the Government and we hope their support will materialise to the extreme in implementing the peace proposals', President Kumaratunga said. People from all walks of life too should contribute their share at this decisive juncture to enable the soldiers to end this destructive war and prevent causing anguish and trauma to the offspring, she said. 'This Government has already prepared all strategies to achieve lasting peace through the devolution of power. We have been assured the support of minor political parties. The UNP's optimistic attitudes on the proposals will help the Government to implement the peace proposals soon', she said. President Kumaratunga said that the Government has provided modern arms to soldiers in order to defeat LTTE terrorism which has compelled the country to drag the war for nearly two decades, snatching thousands of young lives, disabling thousands in their prime of life, and leaving their dependents in the lurch. The President said that security personnel are engaged in a war in the North and East to secure the democratic rights of people, country's sovereignty and national integrity. They have made their supreme sacrifices to create an environment for others to live a normal life in the South. The responsibility and the gratitude of those who enjoy such life in the South is to attend to the needs of those valiant soldiers and fulfil the needs of those heroes' dependents. The Government has taken firm steps towards this end by strengthening the hands of Ranaviru Seva Authority. 'Even at this moment soldiers are facing the enemy's brutal gun fire. They are fathers, sons or other beloved ones of brave families protecting the humanity, democracy and freedom of all of us. People who hail such supreme rights of the men, women and children of all communities should foster the welfare of the war heroes in return', she said. She said that the nation is indebted to soldiers and even the entire collection of flowers that bloomed throughout the country will not be sufficient to pay tribute to them. 'We cannot drag this war and make the future of our offspring bleak. So we invited the LTTE to the negotiating table during the last six years despite their killing of innocent people, destruction of national property and even attempt to take my own life. The doors for peace are still open for them because we need to ensure the minority communities of their just rights', she said. She said the LTTE has refused all such proposals to redress the grievances of the Tamils democratically and resorted to violence. Therefore the LTTE can no longer claim to be the saviour of the Tamils. President Kumaratunga told the Tamils domiciled abroad and raising funds towards terrorism that their dream of 'Tamil revolution' is not authentic. 'They should come down to earth and realise that not the LTTE but the Government is fighting a real war to win the rights for the ordinary Tamils. The President said that many Tamil youths who refused LTTE anarchy go abroad because even small children being fondled in mothers' laps are abducted by them to be used in the war. Except a few who thrive on the war such as arms dealers, middlemen and recipients of commissions from such deals the majority Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims hate the war. President Kumaratunga said that LTTE strategically attack places of worship and hack innocent people to death intending to provoke a backlash in the South. 'Far-sighted people today do not fall into such traps to repeat untoward incidents like in 1983. Soldiers are having a hard time. They are denied of a peaceful sleep and company of their beloved so dedicated to safeguard the country while innocent civilians are too suffering in camps for displaced persons. Their counterparts in the South should no longer try to enjoy tamashas in the city, she said. The ethnic problem could have been solved easily when the country gained Independence 50 years ago. But certain power greedy politicians stood in the way of such initiative thereby leaving the country to bleed today, she said. 'We do not tread such a path, but sacrifice everything possible to solve this problem even at this late stage. People in this country have endorsed our peace effort at six elections during the last six years. The blessings of all political parties mainly the Opposition UNP and their sacrifice irrespective of political and other personal considerations is vital to see an end to this national calamity', she said. Several Cabinet Ministers, Deputy Ministers, MPs, three Service Chiefs and several others participated. The
following schemes in collaboration with the Sudu Nelum movement marked the
occasion: Issue savings certificates to offspring of soldiers killed in
action, handing over of the deed of a 20 acre land by a philanthropist in
Nuwara Eliya to be distributed among needy families of soldiers, launching
of a foster family scheme to help families of War Heroes, handing over of
MPs' donation of their recent increased salaries, launching of a special
lottery 'Jayaviru Sampatha' by National Lotteries Board to make welfare
for War Heroes and launching of a scholarship program to children of
soldiers.
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