|
|
|
Thursday, August 28, 2008 - 5.53 GMT |
|
Govt to end conflict with honor - Foreign
Secretary |
|
|
|
The government is committed to end the
conflict in an honourable and sustainable
manner as soon as possible, Secretary to the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Palitha
Kohona said in a speech at the Asian
Aviation training centre.
Dr. Kohona said that the terrorist threat
will be countered, using the military forces
of the State and the inevitable result of
this approach will be recognised adding that
those who still choose to follow the path of
violence and terrorism will recognise the
evil in their ways and return to the
democratic fold and opt for peace.
“The people of this country need peace. Our
industry needs peace. The government is
committed to establishing a framework for a
lasting and honourable peace. In parallel,
in an inclusive spirit, the government will
also reach out to all communities by
re-establishing and strengthening democratic
institutions throughout the country, so that
the people will be empowered,” Dr. Kohona
said.
He said the goal of the government through
the recent polls is to re-establish the
democratic traditions throughout the country
and restore confidence in the process from
Point Pedro to Matara.
“We inherited the democratic tradition from
our colonial masters and it has been a part
of our body politic for over eighty five
years. It is now very much a part of our
political life. Admittedly, there are
shortcomings and imperfections. No country
can boast of a perfect democratic framework.
We also need to work at improving our
democracy. This will be our sacred
responsibility. We must create a democracy
that enshrines individual rights, respect
differences and facilitates accommodation.
It is our hope that once our inclusive
democracy is re-established throughout the
country, these dreams that were denied to us
all these years would be realised,” he said.
Dr. Kohona said the domestic aviation
industry has suffered considerably over the
last 25 years noting that because of the
conflict, the endless opportunities that
were available to develop the domestic
aviation industry have been lost.
“We have been denied opportunities to expand
and succeed in an area that was naturally
open to us. Sri Lanka could have benefited
considerably by developing a domestic
aviation network. Not only do we have many
local air fields, the network of tanks was
readymade for seaplanes. Unfortunately, this
has not happened. Our tourism industry would
have benefited considerably had there been a
world class aviation industry in this
country. Our beach resorts, the hill
country, the golf courses and the
archaeological sites could have been linked
by air, thereby avoiding the dusty and noisy
options now available by road. The quick
access to our resorts to those who can
afford is simply not readily available. A
habit of flying for pleasure and sport could
have been developed. In addition to other
industries, tourism, in particular, has
suffered due to the terrorist threat,” he
said.
He however expressed optimism that with
advances made by the Security Forces in the
North, before long the government would be
able to restore normalcy in the country and
thereby create a framework for
re-invigorating those industries which would
have been well developed by now, if not for
the terrorist threat.
|
|
|
|
Contact Information: Send
mail to