27/08/2007
By: Prasanna Fonseka

At this decisive juncture of defeating terrorism the Government is determined to see an end to the war and establish permanent peace in the country without leaving the burden of war for future generations, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said yesterday.

"The Government is determined to liberate remainder of the uncleared areas in the Wanni from the clutches of LTTE the same way it liberated the East," the Defence Secretary added.

Addressing a passing out parade of Home Guards, who underwent special combat training at the Galakiriyagama Special Training School, Rajapaksa said that the LTTE is now making desperate attempts to destabilise the Government using foreign forces to reorganise themselves for the next step of war.

"It is the common practice of the LTTE to cover up their defeats by using various strategies like destabilising the Government in order to regroup to defeat the Security Forces," the Defence Secretary added.

However, he pointed out that the LTTE failed to regroup in the East as Security Forces took all possible steps to thwart such efforts.

Though some people claim that the East was captured during their time too, they were not able to retain control of the East.

He said that although a large sum of money is needed for the war the Government is ready to find these funds to eradicate terrorism from the country since all required material should be provided for the Security Forces to fight a war.

"But the development of the country will not be neglected in the name of war," he said adding that the President is determined to find the funds for the development process as well.

The Defence Secretary said the reorganised Home Guard Service renders a yeomen service to national security as it protects villages from the Tiger threat relieving the Security Forces personnel from undertaking such a task.

He said there was a big improvement in the Home Guard/Civil Security service after it was restructured under the leadership of Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera.

The Home Guard Force has been increased from 19,000 to 35,000 after its reorganisation under the Civil Security Department.

Chief of Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Donald Perera, Director General of the Civil Security Department Rear Admiral Weerasekera also participated.