Former Commandant STF and retired Senior DIG Northern Province Nimal Lewke yesterday said he could not understand why there was opposition in some quarters to the national anthem being sung in Tamil.
"It is not something new. Our first Prime Minister D. S. Senanayake appointed a Cabinet Sub Committee headed by late Minister Nissanka Wijeratne’s father Sir Edwin Wijeratne, who was a Cabinet Minister in the Senanayake Cabinet to study and submit a report and it was approved way back in 1951."
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| Former Commandant STF and retired Senior DIG Northern Province Nimal Lewke |
"I strongly believe as a person who sacrificed most of my time in the battle front and we have had a rare opportunity to achieve national reconcilation. What I learnt through my association with various Tamil and Muslim people in the North and East besides information received from hardcore terrorists is that it is mistrust that led to a brutal war which lasted 30 long years, causing immense hardship, difficulties, loss of valuable lives and property."
The retired Senior DIG said: "Efforts being made to inspire and enlighten minorities is a serious challenge.
"Leave aside federal and unitary concepts and try to bring people together."
"If we have a constructive plan and work hard, the Northern Province can be turned into the main economical hub of the country given the resources and the people’s commitment.
"The East will be the most attractive tourist destination with beautiful beaches, wildlife, archaeological ruins and ancient places of worship.
"We took total control of all the areas and adopted necessary precautions to protect innocent people and their property.
"Fight against terrorism is a long, difficult exercise where we have to be on the alert at all given times without lowering our guard."
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