Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse says that Sri Lanka need not to be guided by any external force regarding achieving national reconciliation. He further says that the government is ready to reconcile the ethnic groups through a methodology inherent to Sri Lanka based on its national culture. Sri Lankan citizens have a genuine understanding on the current situation of the country more than anybody else. 

  The Defence Secretary recalls that the Sri Lankan population, who are presently enjoying the benefits of peace were tormented by brutal terrorism several years ago.  Mr. Gotabhaya Rajapakse adds that Sri Lankan people are preparing to establish national reconciliation by joining together as one nation. 

The Defence Secretary delivering the inaugural address at the national reconciliation conference which commenced in Colombo further said that Sri Lanka which acted in determination to defeat terrorism will march forward with the same determination to realize the goal of national reconciliation. 

 

Commenting on the various accusations launched against the humanitarian operation carried out in Sri Lanka, Mr. Gotabhaya Rajapakse said that the security forces had focused special attention to prevent  any civilian becoming victim of the operations.  The report on the commission on Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation has been handed over to the President.  The Defence Secretary added that the government has stated that it is prepared to take action if any irregularity has taken place as a result of its recommendations. 

A systematic programme is needed to be implemented through the reconciliation process to ward off the  agitation created in the minds of the general public as a result of exposure to terrorism. The Defence Secretary pointed out that however,  it is regretting to find out that certain politicians as well as countries are following a policy favorable to the tiger organisaiton. 

Only 3,177 families out of the total number of displaced families, remain to be resettled. 

He further said that it has been possible to detect 47 thousand anti personal mines and nearly 50 thousand pressure mines in the demining operations carried out by the government under the initiative of the army and the assistance of international organizations.  11 thousand tiger cadres have surrendered to the security forces in the final phase of the humanitarian operation. The Defence Secretary further said that around 10,300 out of this number have already been rehabilitated. 

Mr. Gotabhaya Rajapakse further said that it would not be a challenge for the Sri Lankan nation, who have overcome many challenges to build a country of national reconciliation.