DAWN OF PEACE AND HARMONY IN OUR MOTHERLAND

LTTE terrorism has been eradicated in Sri Lanka and there have been no security incidents and no injuries or loss of life due to terrorism since the conflict ended in May 2009. Long awaited Peace has been restored throughout Sri Lanka. The following include some of Government’s initiatives and actions to consolidate and fortify the peaceful conditions that prevail across the country, with the elimination of LTTE terrorism, and to assist those affected by the LTTE intimidation and menace:

• Resettled more than 300,000 people who were displaced by the conflict;

•  Rehabilitated over 1,000 former LTTE child soldiers and re-united them with their families;

• Given amnesty and job and educational training to 12,000 former LTTE terrorists who have returned to civil society;

• Reopened North-South highways for trade and passenger transportation;

• Lifted conflict-era emergency regulations that were in place for 26 years;

• Held presidential, Parliamentary and regional elections, giving voters who were previously prevented by LTTE terrorists from taking part in democracy the power to elect their own leaders;

• Invested $1 billion annually on new infrastructure to help support livelihoods and the economy, especially in conflict-affected areas;

• Adopted a self-employment loan scheme in the North and East that to has apportioned USD 318 million to thousands of beneficiaries;

• Lifted fishing restrictions in the North;

• Recruited Tamil-speaking police force in the North;

• A system to settle all issues pertaining to land in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, where the LTTE practiced extensive ethnic cleansing;

• The withdrawal of military forces from large areas of the North and into smaller security zones;

• The revival of the fishing and agricultural industries in the North;

• Progressive release of land from the high security zones in the affected areas to enable the internally displaced persons to resettle

• Achieved an annual growth rate of 8.4 percent national GDP and an unemployment rate of 4.3 percent in 2011, and continued low inflation amid a global economic downturn;

• Achieved an annual growth rate of 22 percent GDP in the Northern Province in 2011;

• Established an independent commission, the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission, appointed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, to examine the conflict;

• Agreed to implement the recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission. Despite the fact that the LLRC issued its final report and recommendations just two months ago, the implementation machinery has already been put in place as follows:

• The formation of an Inter-Ministerial Committee and a Cabinet Subcommittee to adopt the recommendations;

• A review and report by the Justice Ministry on proper implementation of the recommendations;

• Establishment of a court of inquiry by Sri Lanka’s Army as part of a possible courts martial process;

• A census of the Northern Province to ascertain the damage.

(Daya Hewapathirane)