ANALYSIS COMMENTARY 8 Thursday 15th May, 2008 EDITORIAL ‘No universally applicable methods or solutions in dealing with terrorism’ Text of the address by President across three vast provinces of my will be hard pressed to find a similar- ronmental standards has been com- engages thousands in its baby Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Oxford island home, is the massive irrigation ly representative government in any mended time and time again. brigades. These children are robbed of Union yesterday ( May 13). network. of the other democracies of the Women in Sri Lanka enjoy equal their childhood, and brutality is This unique hydraulic civilization world. I am proud of our vibrant par- opportunities with men. Over 60 per- ingrained into their character, making t is with much pleasure that I which sustained an essentially pros- liamentary system, the strong judi- cent of our medical practitioners are them life-long misfits for society. address you in these hallowed sur- perous rural society, was based on a cial establishment, and the independ- women. Over 80 percent of our teach- Sri Lanka has achieved a very high Iroundings tonight. I must thank philosophy which has much to offer ent press. Not a day passes without an ers are women. The nursing profes- standard in the United Nations the Oxford Union and Mr. Dilan the modern world. Buddhism taught attack on me, I must say totally with- sion is dominated by women. The legal Human Development Index, and we Fernando for this opportunity. Many us that we have no absolute owner- out foundation, from some parts of profession too is increasingly dominat- have already, to a large extent, renowned speakers have addressed ship of the forests, the rivers, the ed by women! Women have also achieved the Millennium Development you from here before me. I do not seek oceans and the atmosphere that sus- entered sections of the work force pre- Goals. It was only last month that a to match them in their eloquence but tain life; that every generation holds viously monopolized by men such as, UN Report commended Sri Lanka for I do wish to speak to you on a subject the environment in trust, so that its academia, engineering, computing, being well on its way to eliminating of much interest to my country at the abuse is prevented; and that our duty quantity surveying and architecture. I malaria. We have a very low rate of present time. was to hand down the environment. recall with great delight that Sri HIV / AIDS infection. I point these That is the empowerment of rural to future generations without harm. Lanka produced world’s first elected things out to you only because of the economy, a central theme of my devel- Even today, over 77 percent of our woman Prime Minister in 1960. Her intense campaign that is being con- opment strategy for Sri Lanka. Our people still live in rural areas because husband, Mr. SWRD Bandaranaike, ducted internationally, to describe my development strategy towards of a wide range of attractions in our whose portrait hangs over there, was country as one that does not care empowering the rural economy of rural home base. I myself hail from also a prime minister of Sri Lanka. about our fellow human beings and our country, where majority of our the Deep South, from an agrarian vil- Ladies and gentlemen, for decades human needs. Facts demonstrate that people live, has now become relevant lage with a beautiful natural environ- we have invested in education and this is far from the truth. to the global economy itself in the ment. I am extremely proud of that health. My country enjoys one of the There are no signs of obvious star- context of the emerging world food fact. The attraction in our villages is highest literacy standards in the vation in any part of the country. In crisis and environmental challenges not only the economic resources and world, while still being categorized as fact for over 25 years, since the begin- to our own survival. We have an addi- greenery, but also the traditional cul- a middle income developing country. ning of the LTTE’s violent challenge tional burden. We are threatened by ture, arts, religion and bio-diversity 97 per cent of our children are to our very existence, to our sovereign- the challenge of terrorism and the which are incentives to keep our peo- enrolled at school. Our infant mortali- ty, the government has been sending need to protect the rights of our fel- ple away from migrating into urban ty rate and maternal mortality rate at food, medicine and educational mate- low beings. townships. The horrors of poverty child birth, is on par with that of rial to the two districts dominated by Sri Lanka where I was born and and suffering that have engulfed many developed countries. The coun- the LTTE. Every single teacher, nurse, bred is a country where our culture is many booming Asian cities have not President Mahinda Rajapaksa try provides free healthcare to all. doctor, hospital and government offi- firmly rooted in rural tradition. The affected Sri Lanka. Education is free and universal from cial in the LTTE controlled areas is Sri Lankan culture has been essen- Strengthened by the caring atti- the media. We have not hesitated to childhood to university. During the appointed and paid by the government tially conditioned by the great reli- tude inherited from our ancient adopt global standards, collaborate primary and secondary school life of in Colombo. Very few countries grap- gion of Buddhism, but later influ- rulers, we were able to adapt to mod- with international organizations such every child the government provides pling with terrorism have been so enced by Hinduism, Islam and ern democracy with great ease. It was as the UN, ILO and the free text books and uniforms. One of accommodating. This itself illustrates Christianity. The concepts of loving in 1931, while still under the British, Commonwealth, and participate in my long-lasting joys is the sight of the caring nature of our society. kindness, compassion and tolerance that Sri Lanka was granted universal efforts to consolidate institutions thousands of children in crispy white These noteworthy achievements are at the heart of our psychological franchise. You will recall that Britain designed to protect the rights of our uniforms heading for school each have been possible because of a holis- make up. They nourish and sustain achieved this status only in 1926. fellow humans. morning. This is probably a sight that tic view of human development to us through the uncertainties of life. Since then we have continued to Sri Lanka has contributed with one cannot witness in many other which we have always been firmly Our traditional greeting - ‘Ayubowan’ develop and strengthen democratic vigour and creativity to the develop- places of the world. committed.. We believe that develop- means – May you live long. institutions in Sri Lanka. Political ment of the principals incorporated in Children are precious to us. I ment becomes meaningful to the vast It is not surprising then that in a pluralism has always been fundamen- international conventions, through believe they are our future. We have mass of the people only when its fruits world where rulers constructed mas- tal to our democracy. We have parties their work in international organiza- ensured a massive investment in our are capable of being enjoyed by all sive castles and grand palaces to of different political views represent- tions and through the International children. My government firmly segments of the people. That is why demonstrate their power and wealth, ed in our parliament. This diversity Court of Justice. We have always believes that no child must be we have constantly tried not only to our kings constructed huge reser- uniquely enriches Sri Lanka's politi- played our part in global efforts to deprived of his or her childhood. We achieve growth and expansion of our voirs -- Tanks, as we call them -- to cal canvass. establish higher standards, and to have created a separate ministry to national wealth but to ensure that the provide water to sustain food produc- The government, although elected make our earth a better place for all, look after the welfare of our children. resources generated by our efforts are tion and ensure sustainable liveli- by a Sinhala Buddhist majority, repre- because we fundamentally feel that We do not employ any children in our distributed among the people, espe- hood to the people. The great legacy sents a coalition of Sinhala, Tamil, this is the correct thing to do. This is a labour force, and no one below the age cially, in the rural hinterland, on an left behind by our ancient rulers, and and Muslim communities and all the reflection of our cultural traditions. of eighteen is recruited to our armed equitable basis. which is in use even today scattered religious groups in the country. You Sri Lanka’s conformity to global envi- forces; ---- unlike the LTTE, which Continued on page 9 Will it be the Beginning of Hope or Hopelessness? by Arjuna Hulugalle and tion that is likely to be formed to such as withdrawing GSP+. Those election campaign. In is unfortu- Dr Mohamed A Saleem administer the Eastern Province NGOs that act as proxies for anti- nate that even the government he Eastern Province elec- has now an opportunity to lay the government propaganda will go coalition did not pay sufficient tion is by any criteria a ground rules for creating the envi- on receiving additional dollops attention to this. Once again we Tlandmark in the political ronment which can transform the from their foreign pay-masters to are facing a struggle to determine evolution in the country.