President declares capture of EPS and reopening of A-9
"2009 dawned with our troops captivating full manage of the Paranthan area. By January 2nd our troops were clever to liberate Kilinochchi too from the clutches of terror. Elephant Pass was misplaced to our troops 9 years ago. Today, the troops of the 53rd the 55th divisions of the Army have add to their power across Muhamalai to Elephant Pass. It is our blame on this time to pay respect to all of our troops who have salaried the highest give up towards this victory," H.E President Mahinda Rajapaksa stated, formally declaring the capture of EPS by security forces today (Jan 9).
"The A-9 route is symbolic of the agreement that exists flanked by the North and the South of our state. Four years previous to this, our people who traveled on the A 9 route had to do so beneath the yoke of an against the law terrorists arrange. The LTTE obtained several million rupees from the fake taxes they imposed on the people who second-hand the A9 route. Our people had the bad fortune at that time live in the countenance of such shame. This part of our the past will never be beyond by us, "he further asserted.
Address to the Nation by H. E. President Mahinda Rajapaksa on the capture of Elephant Pass and the opening of the A9 Route - January 9, 2009
Friends,
Even previous to the dawn of 2009 I have told you that this would be a year of huge victory for our daring forces.
2009 dawned with our troops taking full manage of the Paranthan area. By January 2nd our troops were able to release Kilinochchi too from the control of terror.
I address you today at a time when our daring forces have achieved one more great and significant victory. By this twilight our troops have totally freed the Elephant Pass area from the LTTE. Similarly, bringing Point Pedro and Devundara (Dondra Head) jointly the A-9 route has been totally freed from the clutches of the LTTE.
Friends,
Elephant Pass was lost to our troops 9 years ago. On that day our place of birth lost 359 of its daring troops. 349 went missing and nearly 2500 troops were upset. From that day we have on more than a few occasions tried to arrive at Elephant Pass from side to side Muhamalai. In the past 3 years a substantial number of our troops sacrificed their lives in such efforts.
Today, the troops of the 53rd the 55th divisions of the Army have spread their power across Muhamalai to Elephant Pass. It is our duty on this time to pay respect to all of our troops who have paid the highest sacrifice towards this victory.
I need not give details to you that the A-9 route is symbolic of the agreement that exists between the North and the South of our condition. Four years previous to this, our people who traveled on the A 9 route had to do so beneath the yoke of an against the law terrorists position. The LTTE obtained more than a few million rupees from the fake taxes they imposed on the people who used the A9 route. Our people had the bad luck at that time live in the face of such disgrace. This part of our the past will never be forgotten by us.
Our daring troops are not only busy in freeing the territory held by the Tigers. They are busy in the great caring battle to bring peace, liberty and democratic system to the Tamil people of the North. Today they have launched the fight to hand over as your heritage a Sri Lanka that is free of terrorism.
I am aware that today our people enthusiastically greet the victory of our daring troops. However, jointly with that joy, there are efforts to belittle these victories, to turn the notice of the people to other instructions. There is a conspiracy with sure international forces to attain this sinister object.
You would have already realized that the aim of these conspirators is to level groundless charges next to the Army Commander who works with the most dedication to achieve these victories, and by this to obliterate the morale of our troops, undermine the state, dull the image of the state internationally, and make room for a variety of international forces to get in the way to grab our gains away from us.
We are aware that such conspiracies arise when a country moves ahead without charitable in to outside pressures. It is for no reason other than to humiliate our country internationally that my friend and Member of Parliament Joseph Pararajasingam was assassinated while in church at Christmas service.
What reason other than tarnishing of the country's image internationally could there be in carrying out a bombard attack on the office of the Udayan newspaper published in Jaffna on World Press liberty Day?
At a time when Thoppigala was life form freed from the hold of terrorists an attempt was made to sidetrack from the significance of this victory by the abduction of a reporter from an English verbal communication newspaper and assaulting him.
After a lot of years our troops freed Vedithaltivu trade main defeat to the terrorists. The day after that a site for the inside Displaced Persons at Vavuniya was set on fire.
Who is it that stands to gain from all this? Is not the aim of those who plan these incidents the belittling of the victories of our heroic troops? We have a responsibility to depiction to the country the persons behind these conspiratorial operations. One must not error these conspiracies as being next to me or my government. This is a plot against the whole state by those who have been determined to fear owing to the successes of our security forces.
Friends,
We are now busy in giving new life to the unitary rank of our country. We are bracing democracy in our land. The defeat of terrorism means giving life to an admirable peace and freedom. We are devoted to give our children the chance to travel liberally from Devundara to any part of the country and for all our people, whether Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim Burgher, Malay or of any group of people to live jointly and in agreement.
Let us all join hands to achieve that victory. Let us be prepared to take onward the state that our daring troops are bestowing to us through their victories. This is the blame that our place of birth asks both from you and me. It is my faith that you will take the direct in achieving this estimable goal.
I wish you every achievement in prospect.