Mahinda Rajapaksa Issues Special Statement on 16th Anniversary of LTTE Defeat

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa today issued a special statement commemorating the 16th anniversary of Sri Lanka’s victory over LTTE terrorism, which marked the end of a nearly three-decade-long civil conflict.

"As you already know, our motherland was finally liberated entirely from separatist terrorist control. Henceforth, every inch of Sri Lanka operates solely under the laws passed by this sovereign Parliament."

"I will never forget the above statement I made as your President and Commander-in-Chief from the victorious Parliament, the symbol of people’s sovereignty, at the commencement of the Fourth Session of Parliament on May 19, 2009. It was a declaration of pride in having unified our motherland under one Lion Flag."

"The eradication of the world’s most ruthless terrorist group from our soil, making it possible for every citizen of this country to live without fear, in safety, with equal rights throughout every inch of our motherland, was a dream collectively envisioned by us as a nation for decades. It was also a personal aspiration of mine as a leader of the people."