Sri Lanka vows to continue war

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 April 2001, 00:30 GMT]
Sri Lanka's President Chandrika Kumaratunge Tuesday vowed to defeat the Liberation Tigers and safeguard the territorial integrity of the country, the state-owned Daily News reported Wednesday. Describing the LTTE as an "unprincipled terrorist organisation," she saluted Sri Lanka's military for "continuing to fight tooth and nail to wipe out the LTTE from the face of our dear motherland."

"I stress here we will not deviate from our mission of militarily attacking the Tigers," the President asserted while addressing the Armed Forces Gallantry Awards, She called for the cooperation and support of all countrymen, the paper said.

"With an unprincipled terrorist organisation such as the LTTE I will not like to comment on peace prospects too prematurely but we are hopeful of achieving something tangible and constructive in the coming months," she said.

"Our Security Forces are at present receiving top class training in modern warfare which they have not hitherto received. They are also provided with the sophisticated weapons to fight the war. They are also under far sighted commanders," the President said.

"Due to the valour and gallantry of our three Armed Forces and the Police we have been able to fight the North and East war to reach a decisive stage," President Kumaratunge said.

However, she also said "the door is still not closed to the LTTE to enter negotiations."

By drafting a new Constitution her government would address the "injustices caused to the minorities in the north" the President observed: "We are thoroughly hopeful of not allowing the nation to be broken into two by the LTTE. As long as far we are in Governance we will not allow any division of this country."

She said her government "will not look back until peace is established."

"The laudable conduct, modern warfare training and dedication of the Armed Forces have enabled us to work towards ushering in peace in Sri Lanka," she said.