Resolve to face all challenges with greater strength: President

THERE is no challenge that cannot be overcome by a Nation that has awakened as one and there is no challenge that cannot be defeated by a Nation that has joined ranks to achieve a single aim with total commitment, President Mahinda Rajapakse said yesterday in his address to the Nation as the country remembered the first anniversary of the biggest tragedy in its history.

"There are many challenges that we Sri Lankans as a country and a Nation have to overcome. We should resolve today to face all those challenges with greater strength," President Rajapakse added.

In his address at the State function to remember the first anniversary of the tsunami tragedy that hit the Nation on December 26, from Peraliya, Hikkaduwa where thousands of lives perished in the 'train of death,' President Rajapakse said it was on that basis he launched the Jaya Lanka programme.

Jaya Lanka programme was launched to carry forward with new and greater energy, the task of building homes and properties destroyed by Tsunami," the President added.

He said the Jaya Lanka programme will be carried out under his personal direction and supervision.

"I address you today standing on part of the ground that underwent great tragedy in a devastation caused by nature. I believe that the voices of those friends and relations snatched away from us will continue to linger in the wind that blows towards us from the sea.

I believe there is a question, which I should ask myself and you from yourselves. It is the question whether as a Nation we have been able to do maximum justice by those who sacrificed their lives as victims of that terrible tragedy?

Have we been able to take forward this effort unbroken towards the progress of this country, the immense strength of our people that was manifest together with that great tragedy?", the President asked.

"It is my belief that both you and I are unable to answer these questions to our entire satisfaction," the President added.

President Rajapakse said in the same manner that the country accepted the challenge directed at us by the sea that surrounds the country one year ago, it is necessary that country is ready and prepared to face any challenge, in an even stronger manner and successfully overcome them.

"There is little that can be done by those who continue to only weep in their sorrow or hide through cowardice. Those who face any challenge with self-confidence and preparedness can always be the victors. This is my firm resolve and call upon all of you to make this your own resolve too," President Rajapakse said.

New Violence in Sri Lanka Kills 4

26 December 2005

Sri Lankan officials say at least four people have been killed in clashes since unidentified gunmen killed a Tamil legislator Sunday. Officials say soldiers shot and killed two suspected Tamil Tiger rebels during a search operation in the city of Batticaloa early Monday. And two civilians were killed overnight in the neighboring Trincomalee district.

Meanwhile, preparations are underway for the funeral of Tamil legislator Joseph Pararajasingham, a key figure in the Tamil National Alliance party. He was shot dead while attending Christmas Mass in Batticaloa.

The violence is the latest in a series of deadly attacks since rebel leader Velupillai Prabhakaran threatened to resume his struggle for an independent Tamil homeland if the government fails to reach a peace settlement within the next year.

Mine hits truck carrying Sri Lankan soldiers, 10 dead, four wounded in Jaffna Peninsula

A mine blast killed 10 Sri Lankan soldiers and wounded four others in the island's northern Jaffna Peninsula Tuesday, in escalating violence that the Defense Ministry blames on separatist Tamil Tiger rebels.

``We now have confirmation that 10 have died and four are wounded,'' military spokesman Brig. Prasad Samarasinghe said. The soldiers were traveling in a military truck when the Claymore anti-personnel mine was triggered.

Initial report said that there were 15 people on the truck, but Samarasinghe said ``all 14'' had been accounted for.

He blamed the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam for the attack.

``Who else can do that?'' he said of the rebels, who want to set up a separate homeland for the country's 3.2 million ethnic Tamils in the northeast.

The soldiers were on leave and en route to the airport when the mine exploded.

Violence has escalated in Sri Lanka's north and east since rebel leader Velupillai Prabhakaran threatened to resume his struggle for an independent homeland for the region's majority Tamils. Harry Goonetilleke, a retired air marshall and top defense analyst, said the recent string of attacks blamed on the rebels could lead the country back into civil war.

``They are trying to provoke the military and draw them into open hostility,'' said Goonetilleke, who is also former head of the Sri Lanka air force.

The Norwegian-backed peace talks that started after the 2002 cease-fire were halted in 2004 after the rebels demands for wide-ranging autonomy. Efforts to resume the talks have failed to bring about a resolution, with the two sides unable to agree even on a venue.

Sri Lankan shares plunged a provisional 7.5 percent Tuesday after the attack, in one of the biggest drops this year. The benchmark All Share Index fell 153.16 points to close at 1880.15 points, Dow Jones Newswire said.

The attack follows Monday's killing by Sri Lankan soldiers of two suspected rebels in eastern Sri Lanka, where a pro-rebel parliamentarian was assassinated on Sunday.

With Tuesday's fatalities, a total of 43 Sri Lankan security forces personnel have died this month in violence blamed on the rebels.