http://www.dailynews.lk/2012/01/11/sec01.asp

Tiger rump and supporters still pursuing separatist agenda:

Formidable Tri-Forces essential for national security - Defence Secretary
*‘Tigers have not changed stripes’
*Country has a strong democracy
Sandasen MARASINGHE
Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa presenting the public lecture on ‘Future Challenges to National Security in Sri Lanka’. Pictures by Sulochana Gamage
Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa yesterday said that the country was not yet free of the threat of LTTE separatism and though many LTTE-friendly groups and individuals function overseas separately, they have one common objective of dismembering Sri Lanka and establishing a separate state.
He made this observation at a public lecture on ‘Future Challenges to National Security in Sri Lanka’ organized by Sri Lanka Foundation Institute and Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited, at the auditorium of the Institute.
He said various LTTE-friendly organizations are raising funds by numerous illegal means and are conducting schools overseas for Tamil diaspora youngsters to inculcate in them Tamil nationalist sentiments and hatred towards the Sinhalese.
The Defence Secretary added that though the Tigers pretend that they are not resuming violence, the Tigers have not changed their stripes, modus operandi and agenda to break-up Sri Lanka and resume the struggle for a separate state. He added that under this situation maintenance of strong Security Forces is very pivotal to national security. He said that the Lankan state enjoyed the sovereign right of establishing Army camps in any location it considers appropriate.
He further said that he was confident that the attempt by the LTTE to regroup in Sri Lanka could be defused by the Security Forces with the help of intelligence units.
Sri Lanka Foundation Institute Chairman Professor Ranjith Bandara presenting Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa with a memento to mark the occasion. Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited Chairman Bandula Padmakumara is also in the picture.
Defence Secretary also said that the government of Sri Lanka, whose popularity is extremely high and was elected democratically, could be changed only by democratic means at an election but not undemocratically, such as by protests and processions.
The parties who could not come to power through democratic ways, attempt to come to power in undemocratic ways after seeing experiences of countries like Egypt, Tunisia and Libya. He added that there is no possibility in Sri Lanka for such a thing. He added that several groups even attempt to lure university students to protests to render the government unstable.
Defence Secretary Rajapaksa stated that attempts to make the government unstable at a time when the country is not devoid of threats by LTTE terrorism functioning internationally, with the objective of breaking-up the country and establishing a separate state, were severely affecting national security.
He further stated that a government should listen to the voice of the people. The protests and processions are in a way good for the country as they are a clear indication that the country has a strong democracy. He added that if they affect the peace, hard-earned after the sacrifice of lives, property etc and post-conflict development drive of the government, they should be prevented. “Those who love peace and democracy should stand against those very few disrupters.”
Defence Secretary also said that a few groups who do not love this country make statements inside as well as outside the country, not only against this government but also against the country and the nation. He added that they stated that there is no freedom of speech. He added that those actions were not only unpatriotic but also treacherous. Those behaviours also raise the question if they had a hidden agenda.
He added that elections have been held in the country at the proper time even during the 30 year period of conflict.
“Many leaders have ruled this country. So anybody could change the government at an election by the votes of the people but not in undemocratic ways,” Rajapaksa said.
ANCL Chairman Bandula Padmakumara and SLFI chairman Professor Ranjith Bandara also spoke on the occasion. Chief of Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Roshan Goonetilleke, IGP N K Ilangakoon, Parliamentarian JRP Sooriyapperuma, a large number of Security Forces personnel and civilians were also present on the occasion.