By Supun Dias

A section of the diaspora is engaged in an economic onslaught against Sri Lanka to prevent and derail it from gaining economic prosperity, Minister of External Affairs G.L Peiris charged today.

The Minister highlighted that they want to keep the government continuously engaged in dealing with their propaganda. “The government has taken lot of steps to bring prosperity to people living in the North and the East”, he said addressing the KDU Symposium, ‘Challenges of Post Conflict Sri Lanka’, organized by the Sir John Kotelawala Defence University

“In the Darusman report, it has been mentioned that individual members of the armed forces rescued and helped civilians who were trapped in the uncleared areas. I was very disappointed and angered after seeing it in the report as it was the combined effort of the armed forces which enabled to rescue thousands of civilians”, the Minister said.

“It is easy to get into a country but difficult to exit. The need to continuing standards for everybody is very important. Terrorists are terrorists but when we have to deal with them the decision making and the leadership role is with the government of that particular country as it was elected by its people”, Minister Peiris said.

“It became the reality with several combinations. The perfect rapport between the political and military leadership enabled us to win the war. We handled the international affairs well especially with India also the domestic affairs were well handled by President Rajapaksa”.

“The armed forces were able to rescue 300,000 civilians who were oppressed and held hostage by the LTTE. It is the duty of the government to protect its people. We send food to uncleared areas; we paid salaries for those who were in these areas. When the LTTE closed the A9 we took steps to send food by using ships”, he said.

“To meet the new challenges in the post conflict era we need combination, adaptation, attitudinal changes to enable our armed forces to respond to contemporary challenges”, he noted.
 
“The armed forces play the most crucial role in facilitating civilians affected by the war to bring them back to their normal lives. Their basis infrastructural needs and houses are been build by the forces. They have the confidence, trust and the respect of the people therefore it is easy for them to accomplish the tasks”, he added.

Minister Peiris also said that the resettlement process will be concluded before the end of this year. “There will be no camps after that”, he said.