Sri Lanka criticizes international community's silence during LTTE terror

Certain countries, which remained silent during the 30 years of unspeakable terror unleashed by the Tamil Tiger terrorists group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) with suicide bombs and mass murders of civilians, are now trying to prosecute Sri Lanka for human rights violations after the government eliminated the terror, Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa pointed out today.

Noting that some members of the international community are thinking of human rights only when the killings no longer take place, the President said after defeat of terrorism killings of youth from all communities have stopped and the people are once again able to live freely in an undivided country that belongs to everyone.

President Rajapaksa underlined that activities by powerful countries in the world destroy scores of civilians and world bodies are silent on those.

Addressing a ceremony to open the Anura Bandaranaike memorial ward and the Blood Bank of the Wathupitiwala hospital in Gampaha, President Rajapaksa said creating coexistence and a healthy nation inculcating good virtues in people's hearts will be the government's view.

Emphasizing that the government always implements development programs giving priority to education and health, the President noted that it was possible to focus attention on development after liberating the country from terrorists.

The construction work of the memorial ward at a cost of 83.5 million rupees was funded by the Anura Bandaranaike memorial fund.

The 4th death anniversary of Anura Bandaranaike who was a former Parliamentarian, Minister, Opposition Leader and a Speaker will be held on March 16.

Venerable Dr. Pannila Ananda Thero, Deputy Minister Sarana Gunawardena, the Medical Superintendent of the Wathupitiwala Hospital Dr. Sisira Wijesundara and several others addressed the function.