Ranil commends government and armed forces for victories in the North

(January 27, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe issuing a statement today commended the government and the armed forces for the recent militory victories against the LTTE.

"We unhesitatingly and completely commend the courage, professional skill and commitment of our armed forces which have made this possible. The soveregnity of our nation has been protected and the country's territorial integrity restored," he said.

He said the UNP salutes the armed forces and also commended the services rendered by the Police and the Special Task Force in preventing acts of terrorism.

"We acknowledge that it was the President, the Prime Minister and the Cabinet of Ministers who were responsible for overseeing the conduct of these military operations," he said.

The full text of the statement is as follows:

The United National Party salutes the Sri Lankan armed forces on its military victories in the North. Their achievements have been truly impressive. Key towns that have been under the armed control of the LTTE have been re-taken after the lapse of several years. By establishing full Government control in Mullaitivu, all district administrative head-quarters in the Nothern Province are now under the control of the Government. Our defence forces have broken the capacity of the LTTE's conventional forces.

We unhesitatingly and completely commend the courage, professional skill and commitment of our armed forces which have made this possible. The soveregnity of our nation has been protected and the country's territorial integrity restored.

The Police ensured public security including preventing many acts of terrorism. The Special Task Forces have undertaken its own operations, and thereby consolidated Government control in vital areas of the East. In this way, they made their own valuable contribution.

There are other arms of the administration too who have contributed to this victory in the North who should also be remembered at this time.

There are;
the hundreds of Home Guards who have given protection to the vulnerable villages.
The Government Agents in the districts of the of the North and East, the Civil servants - especially of the departments of Health and Education who helped to run the administration on behalf of the State and delivered health and education services to the civilian population.
In the most difficult circumstances, these brave men and women rendered yeoman service to the State and kept alive the writ of the Government. The State was able to therefore claim that its citizens were being supplied with food and basic services.
The Provincial Councils and their staff who provided much needed vital services to civilians at the local level.

We acknowledge that it was the President, the Prime Minister and the Cabinet of Ministers who were responsible for overseeing the conduct of these military operations.

Whilst giving credit to the Government for this operation, we can only thank them once all the democratic rights of our people have been restored to them. We remind the Govenrment that there are formidable hurdles to be crossed. A genuine political solution to bring long-lasting peace, is one such hurdle. But foremost among these is the plight of the displaced in the Vanni - who have been ignored for so long. We repeat that the responsibility to protect all its citizens is, not only an issue of duty but also conscience. How the government addresses this critical challenge will determine the quality of a durable peace.

On our part, we from the United National Party, as a responsible Opposition have highlighted shortcomings which led to the loss of both military and civilian lives. We also highlighted and severely condemned the increasing abuse of Emergency Regulations and human rights by the government. And we will continue to do so. We will continue to denounce the government and resist its excess and abuse of powers, total violation of democratic norms of life and its current strategy to use the war to consolidate its own despotic rule. This is what the people expect from us in the Opposition and we will not fail them. - Sri Lanka Guardian