It Will Never Be Possible To Defeat This Great Country Through The
Bloody Savagery Of The Cowardly LTTE Terrorists - Defence Secretary
Secretary, Defence, Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa, after
narrowly escaping a Tiger terrorist assassination attempt today,
reaffirmed his commitment to the national need of defeating the LTTE's
terrorism. Mr. Rajapaksa also appealed to the general public and the
international community to refrain from taking any action that would
demoralize and weaken the determination of troops who are currently
engaged in defending the territorial integrity and the sovereignty of
Sri Lanka.
An LTTE suicide bomber set off an explosive laden
three-wheeler targeting the Defence Secretary's convoy at Piththala
junction in Dharmapala Mawatha, Kollupitiya around 10:30 am. this
morning. The Defence Secretary escaped unhurt. 2 soldiers of the Defence
Secretary's escort were killed while 14 others were admitted to hospital
with injuries. Following is the full text of the statement issued by the
Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Public Security, Law and Order,
Mr. Gotabhaya Rajapakse:
Statement By The Defence Secretary, Gotabhaya
Rajapaksa
You may already be aware that through the blessings of
good fortune, the LTTE terrorists failed in their attempt to take my
life today. However contemptible their effort may be, I treat them with
compassion.
I take this opportunity to inform you that I am not
ready to abandon the responsibility we have towards the country, in the
face of such cowardly attacks by the LTTE, and to reaffirm our
commitment to the national need to defeat the LTTE's terrorism.
Far from abandoning our determination and commitment
to defeat all efforts of the LTTE to achieve its bloodthirsty aims by
grossly misleading the international community; in the face of attacks
such as these, I would hesitate to even think of it.
I wish to appeal to all our people and the
international community to avoid any action that will demoralize and
weaken the determination our brave troops who are ready, at the
sacrifice of their lives. To make real the dream of His Excellency the
President of building a new Sri Lanka, where all Sinhala, Tamil and
Muslim people can live happily in peace and harmony.
Whatever obstructions we may face, I wish to emphasize
that we should not deviate from the people's desire to bring about a
permanent peace to the country; because peace is the primary need of the
nation. I wish to express my gratitude to the brave soldiers who
sacrificed their lives in the face of this attack by assassins; I wish
speedy recovery to the members of the Security Forces and civilians who
were injured in this attack; and thank my security personnel who faced
up to the challenge of the assassins.
Finally, what I wish to reiterate before you the
singular truth that it will never be possible to defeat this great
country through the bloody savagery of the cowardly LTTE terrorists. As
citizens, I request you to wish all necessary courage and strength to
the Security Forces who are your own brothers and sisters, and
appreciate the efforts taken by them to safeguard you. I ask you to
raise your voice for the cause of peace, to realize your expectations of
a peaceful and harmonious Sri Lanka.
Gotabhaya Rajapaksa
Secretary, Defence December, 01, 2006
Courtesy: MCSN |
