War heroes won’t suffer under our Govt: Gota

By Lahiru Pothmulla   

SLPP presidential candidate and former defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday assured that a government led by him would not allow anything bad to happen to any of the war heroes. 

 Speaking at the National Convention of the Organisations of War Heroes’ Family Members in Colombo, he said he considered it his responsibility and duty to care for soldiers who had served the country honestly.   

“We launched the humanitarian operation to see the end of the war. No terrorism would ever reoccur in the country. As someone who was with you on the battlefield and as the defence secretary who oversaw your efforts, my becoming the President is an honour to all of you. I won’t allow any force to divide the country or terrorism to raise its head again in the country. I will always appreciate your contribution,” Mr. Rajapaksa said.  He said the incumbent government had diluted the intelligence service and had tried to haul soldiers before international courts. 

“It is with the input of the intelligence service that we found the safe-houses of the LTTE terrorists back then. Identifying a suicide bomber and infiltrating his or her intelligence network is not a walk in the park,” Mr. Rajapaksa said.