LANKALIBRARY FORUM

Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera on cowardly response to LTTE killings

“We should not go down on our knees and beg for peace”

By Sunil Jayasiri
DM / 08Aug2005

Navy’s Deputy Chief of Staff Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera on Saturday who was transferred from Trincomalee to Colombo stated at a passing out ceremony held at Navy training camp at Poonewa in Anuradhapura where 391 sailors completed their six month training, that by not taking any action against the LTTE’s brutal killings and already violations of the peaceful environment, had discouraged the establishment of a peaceful settlement. ‘It only shows cowardliness and timidity’ he said.

The Admiral said “Some are thinking that taking action against those breaking peace are working against peace. But, the Navy both in war and peace had done everything to protect the country’s dignity and sovereignty before the signing of the ceasefire agreement as well as after it”.

“Now the LTTE is using the Cease Fire Agreement as a tool to strengthen their power. They are getting equipped themselves more and more in all fields- Socially, economically as well as politically and we have became mere ‘monitors’ as we are only monitoring the situation”, Rear Admiral Weerasekera accusing those responsible for such a situation.

He also said “We need peace but it must be without incidents in the country. If anybody is objecting to it, we should be ready to establish peace even through war. Soldiers clamour for peace more than anyone else as they are the people who will personally experience it. But we should not go down on our knees and beg to achieve it”.

Several senior navy officials and parents of the new sailors also participated at the event.