Govt. acted humanely ; MR
1 May 2011 03:15 pm
By Sandun A. Jayaekera
The Sri Lankan government carried out its rescue mission on nearly 300,000 IDPs at the last stage of the ethnic conflict more humanely and carefully than the expectations of the UN agencies like the World Food Programme (WFP), President Mahinda Rajapaksa said today.
Addressing the UPFA main May Day rally at the Town Hall Grounds this afternoon, President Rajapaksa added that Sri Lanka remains the only country that saved such a large number of people from the clutches of terrorism in such a short time, fed, treated, rehabilitated and ultimately integrated into the society.
“No country in the recent history has carried out a humanitarian operation of this magnitude after a war. No armed forces can claim to have rescued such a large number of militants who had fought against the legitimate forces of the country, rehabilitated them, given education up to the university level and skill development training and even arranged their marriage and sent them to the society as law abiding citizens. This was a unique record to Sri Lanka and this is what certain groups and organizations call as war crimes and a violation of human rights,” President Rajapaksa charged.
The WFP advised the government to send food sufficient for 300,000 IDPs but Sri Lankan government sent food stocks enough for 350,000. The government had to bring back the excessive food after all IDPs were put at temporary camps safely.
The entire world watched in awe as Sri Lankan soldiers carried weak and old to the safety and even fed them with their own meal. They have seen how innocent Tamils as well as LTTE cadres were treated by our medical teams during and after the war. This is the crime they have committed against humanity. This is the war crimes they have committed according to those who attempt to destabilize Sri Lanka for their ulterior motives.
President Rajapaksa appealed to NGOs, certain other organizations and individuals not to betray the country for a few thousands of dollars.