UN peacekeeping troops leaving for Haiti were told by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to uphold Sri Lanka’s dignity and honour.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake told UN peacekeeping troops departing for Haiti that they carry Sri Lanka’s pride, honour and international reputation on their shoulders, while also stressing that suspicious matters linked to military service must be examined and exposed.
The President attended a ceremony this morning (26) at the Sri Lanka Infantry Regimental Centre in Panagoda to extend his best wishes to members of the Sri Lanka Army and the Sri Lanka Police Special Task Force scheduled to leave for United Nations Peacekeeping Operations.
This is the largest contingent of troops departing from Sri Lanka for UN peacekeeping duties. It is also the first time a President has personally attended such an event to extend best wishes to a departing peacekeeping contingent.
Speaking at the event, the President said the deployment shows the world that Sri Lanka has a military prepared to stand up for the protection, democracy and human rights of oppressed people wherever they may be. He said this brings great pride and honour to the country. He also noted that while Sri Lanka may find it difficult to become the richest country in the world, it can become a country of pride and dignity.
The President said everyone leaving for peacekeeping duties carries the nation’s pride on their shoulders. He added that it is the responsibility of all personnel to fulfil their duties properly and protect the pride and honour of the country.
The contingent is scheduled to leave for Haiti in August, with the objective of helping stabilise the crisis situation in that country and supporting the establishment of peace.
The group includes 900 Army personnel from different regiments, 189 officers from the Police Special Task Force and, for the first time in Sri Lanka’s military history, 43 female Army personnel specially trained in mine and booby trap disposal.
Armoured vehicles, Sri Lanka-made “UniBuffel” vehicles and two special bulletproof vehicles provided by the Presidential Security Division have also been supplied to the battalion.
Speaking further, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said:
“You are preparing to depart for a very important mission for world peace, carrying the reputation and pride of our country. We believe that you are leaving for this mission carrying the pride of our country on your shoulders.
“Always, in your duties, you bear the strong responsibility of protecting the country’s honour and pride. We must transform our country into a very prestigious and dignified nation internationally.
“It is difficult for us to become the richest country in the world. But we can transform ourselves into a dignified country in the world. There are many things we need to establish and achieve for that. In doing so, we must create a state that is economically stable. When a country collapses economically, the respect, dignity and reputation that country holds internationally also collapse. If we are a country that cannot repay its debts, if we are a country that has gone bankrupt economically, we become a state whose dignity has collapsed. Therefore, how to transform our country into a strong state economically is one of our challenges.
“Today, we have achieved several significant economic victories. Our economy can withstand internal shocks such as floods, cyclones and epidemics. Recently, during November and December, we experienced the Dithva cyclone, which was the natural disaster that had the greatest economic impact in recent times. That was an internal problem. However, we had an economy capable of facing that internal problem. Therefore, without printing new money, without taking loans, we were able to allocate Rs. 50,000 million to recover from the Dithva cyclone. As a result, during the January-February-March quarter, our economy achieved a steady economic growth rate of 5.1%.
“Similarly, with the Middle East war situation, some people began to interpret that our economy would stop again. There would be a fuel shortage. There would be power cuts, import restrictions would be imposed, vehicle imports would stop, and many such factors were discussed. With the Middle East war, we allocated Rs. 10,000 million to provide relief to the people.
“We have now built an economy that can face internal shocks. And how do we face external shocks? A strategic plan is needed for that. We have discussed this extensively and taken many steps.
“Similarly, for a country to become a dignified nation, the rule of law must be properly established. Therefore, we are breathing life into the concept that everyone is equal before the law. Society must develop the belief that the law will be applied to everyone when a mistake is made. Internationally, the concept must be established that Sri Lanka is a state that respects the law. In that role, we have taken a long step, and we are building a state where everyone is subject to the law.
“Furthermore, the freedom of citizens must be ensured. No citizen of this country should live in fear of the ruler. A state cannot move forward with submission to the ruler. The citizen has the right to question the ruler. We must create a state that protects such freedom and human rights. That is an important task in moving forward as a dignified and prestigious country in the eyes of the world.
“The senior officers of this military have performed long-term excellent service for our country. There have been reports of certain suspicious matters regarding that service, both internationally and domestically, to some extent. However, I want to tell you that from the ordinary soldier to the Army Commander, and from the police constable to the Inspector General of Police, if any step has been taken for the protection of this country, for the protection of the people, for the protection of the state, as a government we are committed to protecting every one of those steps.
“If anyone, anywhere, has performed duties for the security of the country, for the freedom of the people, for the security of the state, we have a responsibility to protect all those who have contributed to those duties. But equally, putting aside the reputation of the military and the responsibilities of the military, if certain small groups have done things that are unbecoming of the military, things that are unexpected, for the power ambitions of certain groups, then for the reputation of the military, for the protection of the victims, and for the dignity of the country, we are prepared to take action regarding them.
“It is not personal revenge or personal vendettas. If there have been actions that have abandoned the military’s honour, values and commitment to the state and the people for the power ambitions of certain groups, then for the honour and reputation of the military itself, that must be examined, investigated and exposed to society. That is how our honour is upheld. Not by burying crimes under the sand.
“Today you are departing for a very serious mission. On one hand, it brings pride and reputation to our country. You must mitigate the conflicts in Haiti, ensure the fundamental rights of that people, and create an opportunity for them to choose their own strong leaders through an election. They are facing an internal problem today. Therefore, the United Nations must intervene for the freedom, democracy and human rights of the citizens of that country. So today you are departing to protect the freedom, democracy and rights of citizens of another country. That is a pride for us as a nation. You are leaving to protect the freedom, democracy, people’s rights and lives of citizens of another country. That is a respect and dignity we gain as a nation. You are showing the world that Sri Lanka possesses a military ready to stand up for the protection, democracy and human rights of oppressed people wherever they are in the world.
“Similarly, Sri Lanka has been working with UN peacekeeping forces for a long time. In every instance, they have gained a reputation. Today you are departing carrying the honour of a state that has long fulfilled its duties with great discipline within UN peacekeeping forces.
“In the past, the groups that served in your role have protected that honour in those lands. I believe that you bear not only the responsibility of protecting the country’s honour but also the honour of your senior officers.
“You bear the responsibility of fulfilling the nation’s pride, the honour of your senior officers, and the hopes of your parents. Your parents have sent their child to a disciplined profession. This uniform you wear represents the pride and honour of our country. I know your parents are proud of that.
“Similarly, your role is powerful in any disaster that occurs in Sri Lanka, as well as in the war that took place on Lankan soil. Not only in natural disasters but also in conflicts that arise, we place our trust in you. These parents have gifted to the country a child who fulfills their duties to overcome any disaster in the country. And today you are departing to protect the security, freedom, democracy and human rights of people in another country. Your parents also feel great respect for that. Therefore, this moment of your departure is a moment that creates repeated respect and pride for you among all of us.
“You are going carrying our national flag on your shoulders. In every step of your duty, your motherland and your parents are watching you. Therefore, I hope that all of you will commit to properly fulfilling your responsibilities.”
The event was attended by Deputy Minister of Defence Retired Major General Aruna Jayasekara, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Retired Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyyakontha, Army Commander Lieutenant General Lasantha Rodrigo, Air Force Commander Air Marshal Wasu Bandu Edirisinghe, Navy Commander Rear Admiral Kanchana Banagoda, Inspector General of Police Attorney Priyantha Weerasooriya, senior officers of the tri-forces, Chargé d’Affaires of the US Embassy Jayne Howell, Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha, and a group including the parents of the members departing for peacekeeping service.
