There is no denying that much of the current problems facing the Sri Lankan nation owe to the 'exclusivist' agenda from the past, taken to ethnic extremes. At the height of the ethnic strife and subsequent war was the 'JVP militancy', first of the early Seventies and later of the late Eighties.
N Sathiya Moorthy, Inclusive, not Exclusivist, Daily Mirror, August 26, 2007.
Wars can be won militarily, but winning the war for people’s hearts and minds is the ultimate victory. The government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa strongly believes that its war on terror against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) will end in a resounding victory.
Ameen Izzadeen, Born of political skullduggery, lived a rulers’ tool...another sham, Khaleej Times, August 28, 2007.
Commenting on SLMM’s notion that the CFA was being violated frequently, Minister Rambukwelle said the government would not allow the ceasefire monitors to dictate terms to the state when it came to national security.
Easwaran Rutnam, SLMM concerned over Gotabhaya’s comments, Daily Mirror, August 28, 2007.
The CFA certainly served a useful purpose at the initial stages, however flawed it may be. It helped minimise killings. But, the subservience of the UNF government enabled the LTTE to abuse the truce to the hilt, ably assisted by the Norwegians, to train its cadres abroad and smuggle in war related material besides gaining a great deal of legitimacy for its cause.
Dances with Tigers, Ministry of Defense, August 28, 2007.
Last week Jayantha Dhanapala, a former UN Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs who made an unsuccessful run for the job of Secretary-General, also weighed in with his comments. Dhanapala was quoted as saying that Sri Lanka's international reputation had been tarnished by the use of language not befitting our cultural traditions and international diplomacy.
Thalif Deen, The consequences of Lanka’s rude diplomacy, Sunday Times, August 26, 2007.
The Buddhist monks at a recent media conference said that some INGOs operated in rural areas still practise unethical conversions in the guise of pre-schools and other charity organisations. They said that with the restoration of the day-to-day life in the Eastern province these INGOs would attempt to convert Buddhists and Hindus into their religions using their displacement and poverty to their advantage.
Shanika Sriyananda, SLBC up in arms against unethical conversions, Sunday Observer, August 26, 2007.
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