How do you see the recent developments taking place in the country?
Rishad Bathiudeen - Minister of Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services:
The President took the decision to liberate the uncleared areas from Mavil Aru to Thoppigala and now progressing towards the North to end the suffering of the people. While a huge volume of money is spent on these humanitarian operations, Government never neglected the development work of the rest of the country and also in the recently liberated areas. Continuing developing programs parallel to the operations suppressing terrorism is a huge success, specially to a developing country like ours. The development work not only focuses on infrastructure development but it includes several mega projects as well like the Norochcholai coal power plant, Kerawalapitiya power plant and several highways and expressways. This is a huge responsibility. Then we were able to resettle approximately 200,000 of displaced people in the East which didn't happen for a long time in our history. We are conducting many projects to develop the infrastructure as well as the livelihood of people of those areas.
V. Anandasangaree - Leader, Tamil United Liberation Front
It's encouraging on one aspect and distressing on the other. Encouraging in the sense the people who have been suffering for the past 30 odd years trapped in uncleared areas are now escaping from those areas trying to find safety; Gradually getting liberated. In a fight with a ruthless organization like the LTTE, the credit should go to the Sri Lanka Army for the minimal number of civilian casualties. Most of the people who criticize the Government, don't understand the importance of this. If the Army wants it can destroy the Tigers within a few days. But because of the civilian presence the Army is extra cautious. I never supported war but I kept on agitating for a friendly Army coming in to Kilinochchi and liberating innocent civilians. I give the credit to the Army for their methodology. This is what I stress to the international community as well. These people undergo many untold hardships while under LTTE grip like killings, tortures, dark room torture, abductions. I know that people of the Wanni are in a desperate situation where they want the Army to come and free them wherever possible. That, I don't think anyone has the right to comment against.
Development budget to address North East shortcomings | ||
Development all over in equal fairness |
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