"Who is more dangerous? Is it the 12,000 LTTE detainees released by the previous government, or the 38 LTTE suspects released by the present government? Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe asked in Parliament.
He said that opposition MPs accused the government of releasing 38 LTTE suspects. But the previous government had released 12,000 LTTE suspects. "We could tally the charges against the 38 that we released and the 12,000 the previous government released and then find which lot was the most dangerous," the Premier said.
We should have solved our human rights issue within our own country. China, the US and India, all these countries helped us to end the war without harming civilians. Pakistan trained our troops, the US trained our troops. Without their help, we could never have won the war. These nations still help us in reforming the armed forces, he said.
"Who promoted racism? Who incarcerated Sarath Fonseka? Who killed Lasantha Wickramatunga, Nadaraj Raviraj? Killing of MPs Raviraj and Maheshwaran helped strengthening the hands of Prabhakaran. Today there are patriots in their hundreds here. These are cardboard patriots.
These patriots have no substance. They are just like some ice cubes. If we throw them out they would melt away. We have not stopped the court cases against those who have been given bail.
"Mahinda Rajapaksa went to Geneva and betrayed our forces. Thereafter, the UN started investigating us. Who struck a deal with Prabahakaran before the 2005 Presidential elections? Who gave funds to the LTTE after Foreign Minister Kadirgamar was killed? Tell us of those deals too.
Without shouting of non-existing threats here, he said that opposition member's speeches at the committee stage debate on budget proposals under the Defence Ministry expenditure heading were nothing but beating of war drums.
"Tell me for whose sake you are beating war drums? We do not have a war here. What do you propose? With whom should we fight?
Do you propose that we should join the countries currently bombing Syria because there is a war? Or are you proposing that we should bomb Tamil Nadu for sending its fishers to poach in our waters? Your beating of war drums lead you think that you could rouse the people and win them back by beating war drums. If you are mistaken, the war was over many years ago," the Premier said.
US training for Sri Lankan forces - President
President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday, stated that USA had expressed willingness to offer military training to members of the Sri Lanka's Security Forces.
He added that this opportunity could be gained following discussions with American President Barack Obama, US Secretary General and the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka.
President Sirisena made these observations yesterday, joining the committee stage debate of the budget under Defence Ministry financial head.
The President stated that US training for members of Sri Lankan Security Forces had been deprived for several years.
He added that the government would take measures to enhance the quality of the Sri Lanka's Security Forces. He added that government had been able to increase the number of security forces personnel who are enrolled to the UN Peace Keeping Forces.
(Daily News)
