The formal announcement to the
nation and the world by His Excellency the President
Mahinda Rajapaksa on 19.05.2009 from the Parliament,
of the conclusion of a 26 year old war, would have
definitely caused great elation in the hearts of
all peace-loving people in every nook and cranny
of the globe. Says Ash-Shaikh H. Abdul Nazar, General
Secretary of All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama.
A battle that lasted for nearly
three decades, claiming the lives of thousands of
people, maiming thousands, ruining properties worth
thousands of millions, traumatizing hundreds, displacing
thousands, widowing a number of women, orphaning
a great deal of children, taking the lives of many
an outstanding intellectual and versatile expert,
devastating numerous resources, plunging the economy
into a bottomless pit, obliterating this gorgeous
and fascinating island and pushing back the country’s
progress for many years, has now come to an end.
On behalf of the Muslim Community,
I, with a sense of profound gratitude, warmly and
sincerely congratulate His Excellency the President
who accelerated the combat with courage and determination
despite the heavy pressure of the international
community, the Defense Secretary who acted prudently
and responsibly, the chiefs of three services and
armed forces who fought pawning their lives with
audacity and a sense of patriotism and the Inspector
General of Police and police who stood by throughout,
putting the country before self. I also remember
with a heavy heart and tearing eyes those forces
who laid down their lives for the cause of wiping
out the terror campaign and their kith and kin.
The gallant act which has defeated
the ruthless terrorism has created another chapter
in the history. This new chapter needs to be inserted
in the subject of History in future. The able leadership
of His Excellency the President, brilliant guidance
of the chiefs of the three armed forces and stout
performance of the troops should be commended by
all and sundry.
The remark made by His Excellency
the President that this victory must not be construed
as a triumph of one community over the other or
loss of one community to the other, is applaudable
and noteworthy. The reality is that peace has won
and the terrorism has been overcome.
At a time when the nation is relieved
of atrocities of long-standing terror and liberated
from the clutches of terrorists, all citizens long
for a new tomorrow with much anticipation. Yes.
That future ought to be planned well and built.
The breeze of freedom must embrace us in a way everyone
enjoys his due rights without let or hindrance and
one community looks at the other with mutual understanding.
It heartens us that the address delivered by His
Excellency the President ensured all this explicitly.
This is a long journey and each and every citizen
is a passenger. It is not an individual responsibility
of the head of state; instead a collective responsibility
of all.
May Almighty Allah bless our beloved
motherland with a bright, prosperous, tranquil and
healthy future!
19.05.2009
