http://www.dailynews.lk/2012/08/17/main_Editorial.asp

Neutralizing separatist tendencies

The 'Eelam Project' is indeed very much alive and this was driven home afresh by the conduct of a symposium in favour of the destructive idea in Tamilnadu recently, with many a fire-breathing Eelamist in attendance. The holding of the event proved President Mahinda Rajapaksa's contention that this country's hard-won internal stability should be continued to be protected in the most rigorous manner.
It is most unfortunate that the 'Eelam cause' is continuing to be espoused and that the opportunities are being provided for the continued foisting of the idea, in these times when Sri Lanka is fast picking-up the pieces and setting things right domestically. The 'Eelam' dream was laid to rest by the Mahinda Rajapaksa administration and the Lankan Security Forces on May 19, 2009, but it is amply evident that there are forces which are going hammer and tongs to revive the fiendish notion, which only spurred bloodshed and destruction.
No one and nothing could force Sri Lanka's hand in these issues but one would expect more cooperation from the democratic world in Sri Lanka's national rejuvenation effort. Sri Lanka has gone down the road of reconstruction, rehabilitation and reconciliation over the past three years and any attempts by sections of the world community to thwart Sri Lanka's efforts in this direction would smack of sabotage and attempts to torpedo her efforts towards national reconstruction.
This is one reason why we need to take on board and keep with us the developing world; perhaps the entirety of the developing world, since this section of the international community would more readily make common cause with this country. Accordingly, the moment for the Non-aligned Movement could be said to have once again arrived and we need to more vigorously engage with our friends in the international community and win over more and more allies.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka would need to speed full steam ahead with the National Action Plan aimed at implementing the LLRC report. This is an absolute necessity if we are to not only make more progress on the road to peace and reconciliation but win over to our side the well meaning of the world. Finally, it is the figures that count in the Councils of the world and tremendous progress on the normalization front would enable Sri Lanka's enemies to be resoundingly outvoted.
Accordingly, there could be no end to bridge-building internally as well as externally. The Lankan state has no choice but to do the utmost to meet the legitimate needs of our communities wherever they may reside in this country. We know for a fact that much has been achieved in this regard and that almost the entirety of our IDPs has been resettled.
However, ensuring the fulfillment of only the physical needs of our communities would be found to be inadequate. There are also the psycho-social requirements of our people which should be met. While there is no getting away from the need to ensure absolute equality among our communities in every conceivable respect, personal and group empowerment must be concretely realized. It is best that we remember that such empowerment is what democratic advancement is all about.
The services rendered by the Army in the North need to be greatly appreciated, when considering these requirements. A news report carried by us yesterday said that the Army is going more than the extra mile to meet the educational needs of the children of the North. This is the way to go indeed, if separatism is to be defeated forever. The Army plays a vital role in ensuring the security of the country but it must be increasingly seen as an institution which is close to the people. The latter could be achieved through a strong service orientation and it is gladdening to note that the Army is moving in this direction.
The controversial Vadukkodai Resolution of 1976, which the President referred to, was sparked by the belief that the Tamil community was treated as 'second class citizens.' This myth must be completely laid to rest and bridge-building among our communities, on the basis of equality, is the way to durable peace and stability.