“As you already know, our motherland was finally liberated entirely from separatist terrorist control. Henceforth, every inch of Sri Lanka operates solely under the laws passed by this sovereign Parliament.
I will never forget the above statement I made as your President and Commander-in-Chief from the victorious Parliament, the symbol of people’s sovereignty, at the commencement of the Fourth Session of Parliament on May 19, 2009. It was a declaration of pride in having unified our motherland under one Lion Flag.
The eradication of the world’s most ruthless terrorist group from our soil, making it possible for every citizen of this country to live without fear, in safety, with equal rights throughout every inch of our motherland, was a dream collectively envisioned by us as a nation for decades. It was also a personal aspiration of mine as a leader of the people.
When I won the presidential election in 2005, terrorists had already established administrative centers for their envisioned separate state in the Northern and Eastern Provinces.
The terrorists had captured nearly a third of our motherland along with its coastal belt, using military, naval, and air capabilities.
Our own Tamil-speaking people in the north were terrorized and forced to pay ransom and unfair taxes under the threat of death. Young men and women, including schoolchildren, were forcibly recruited into their ranks. The terrorists were carrying out brutal attacks targeting civilians, economic nerve centers, religious places, and political leaders throughout the country.
They even demonstrated their cruelty to the world by cutting off water supplies, denying thousands of acres of farmland irrigation, simply to showcase their extremist brutality. LTTE terrorists had drawn a new map in blood over the bodies of thousands of innocents from my motherland.
At a time when even powerful nations feared terrorism, I made the decision to fight against the LTTE. This was a humanitarian mission. From the weapon used to assassinate Jaffna Mayor Alfred Duraiappah in 1975, to the innocent Sri Lankan civilians desperately trying to escape from Puthumathalan, terrorists only used weapons and violence. We saved them. We gave them a free country. Our fight was never against the Tamil people. From Dondra Head to Point Pedro, every citizen is our citizen—my people. Our objective was to protect the lives of civilians.
Our heroic soldiers fought with weapons in their hands, carried the responsibility of protecting human rights on their shoulders, and bore compassion and humanity in their hearts. Today, 16 years after the war ended, as the Commander-in-Chief of what I proudly consider the world’s most humanitarian army, I still engage in political battles for their sake on the world stage.
The recent opening of a Tamil genocide memorial depicting the map of Eelam in Brampton, Canada, even years after terrorism was defeated, is an unfortunate event demonstrating that the dark shadows of terrorism still linger. During this event, the Mayor of Brampton falsely accused our government of massacring thousands of Tamils. As the head of state and Commander-in-Chief at that time, I categorically reject these baseless accusations.
At a time when Tamil civilians were held hostage by LTTE terrorists, turned into human bombs, our armed forces entered the battlefield to liberate these innocent hostages, executing humanitarian missions that ultimately earned the Sri Lankan tri-forces recognition as among the most disciplined and capable in the world. I am confident that the Tamil civilians rescued that day will testify to this truth.
Even amidst exploding landmines, facing gunfire, chemical attacks, and shelling, our brave soldiers fought without discrimination, committed to equal rights for all people. I firmly assert that such courageous and disciplined forces never committed human rights abuses or war crimes.
Our forces defeated an organization officially listed in 2008 as the world’s most ruthless terrorist organization by the FBI of the United States.
Fighting is not unfamiliar to us, but we maintain discipline. We clearly understood what we were fighting against. Our nation has a proud history, from the times of great kings like Dutugemunu, Valagamba, Dhatusena, and Vijayabahu, who defeated invading enemies, to heroes who fought against imperialist powers such as the Portuguese, Dutch, and British. We had heroic monks, and warriors like Keppetipola and Weera Puran Appu, who valiantly resisted colonial powers. We ended a bitter 30-year war through the sacrifice of thousands of heroic soldiers. The freedom we enjoy today is preserved by the lives of thousands of these brave warriors who I bowed down to honor. My only wish is that our motherland remains a sovereign state under one Lion Flag even after my lifetime.
Today, on the 16th anniversary of the victorious conclusion of the war, I pay tribute with deep respect to our heroic soldiers from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, and Civil Defense Force who spilled their blood, sacrificed limbs, and ultimately their lives to achieve victory. I also honor the leaders at that time, including the Defense Secretary, Chiefs of Armed Forces, Police Chief, and Civil Defense Force leaders, who led this victorious journey.
I respectfully remember parents who bravely sent their children to the battlefield, spouses who made immense sacrifices, and all Sri Lankans who supported us through difficult political, economic, and social challenges.
I have seen parents searching with tearful eyes for their children’s names etched on war memorials. I believe that a soldier who wears his uniform proudly is the pride of the nation and is immortal.
Mahinda Rajapaksa
Fifth Executive President of Sri Lanka”
