“No one will be allowed to take up arms against the Motherland”: President

As long as this Government is in power, no one and no parties will be allowed to take up arms against the motherland and it will not leave room for anyone to divide the country, asserted President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

He added that the people should have complete faith and confidence that the land that was liberated from terrorism through great sacrifice of life would not be handed over to the forces of separatism again.

This was emphasised by the President at a function held on Tuesday (23) for the presentation of the President’s and Regimental Colours to the Sri Lanka Artillery Regiment. The function was held at the Artillery Regiment base in Panagoda.

The President said that some countries were still groping in the dark without understanding the nature of terrorism and the only way to eliminate the scourge of terrorism from the world was to understand its true nature and fight it for what it is, instead of giving terrorism various definitions and tags.

The President emphasised that wherever it happens, be it in Asia, Middle East countries or anywhere in the world, terrorism is terrorism, and all countries should make determined efforts to totally eliminate terrorism.

He said that the dignity and the delight when the National Flag flutters in the air increase with the artillery sounds of the Artillery Regiment. He said that the Artillery Regiment was a supreme sign of our national pride and said that because of the Artillery Regiment, we were able to win the war and save the life of several thousand soldiers.

The President said that several countries despite being very powerful were still unable to defeat terrorism and were suffering from the scourges of terrorism and bombs are being blasted in several towns in powerful countries. The President said that with dedication and determined efforts terrorism can be defeated and that he was praying for wisdom to befall all countries in the world to totally eliminate terrorism.

The President pointed out that Sri Lanka had silenced the guns of terrorists in 2009 and since then Eelamists have realised that they cannot divide the country by the force of weapons. However, terrorist remnants now residing in other countries are resorting to new tactics to divide the country.

Making special reference to the Gunners of the Artillery Regiment, the President said that when Sri Lankans first saw artillery guns in 1505 when the Portuguese invaded the island, they were not taken aback. Instead in a few years the Lankans designed their own artillery guns and used them successfully against the enemy.

The President also stated that when fighting against the LTTE although we had to seek foreign help largely to get weapons, we needed to do research and as Sri Lankans we should produce what we need on our own soil, adding that this was how we could add value to our hard-won peace.

Referring to the battle waged by the Artillery Regiment, the President said that the regiment lost 23 officers and 529 personnel from other ranks. In addition many were injured, some permanently. He said that their sacrifices would be remembered forever.

He said the artillery gunners were a symbol of a nation and that their performances at national events always invoke pride. He said that there was no other befitting time for the Regiment to be presented with President’s and Regimental Colours than when it is celebrating its 125th anniversary.