The Decade of Peace we celebrate in triumph

COLOMBO (News 1st): The 10th anniversary of the completion of the ‘Decade of Peace’ or the "Dasawarshaabhishekaya" was celebrated today (May 19) to remember the sacrifices made by the war heroes to bring peace to the nation after a three-decade long war. This is a tribute by News 1st to those patriotic War Heroes. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam or the LTTE rose with the assassination of Alfred Duraiappah, Mayor of Jaffna the first victim of LTTE terrorism, on the 27th of July 1975. The terror of the LTTE which grew from Black July in 1983 was finally silenced at the Nandikadal Lagoon & the whole of Sri Lanka was united under one flag on the 18th of May 2009. It was not only the North and East but also the South and the West which was battered by the gruesome three-decade long war. Sri Lanka was in decline in the face of suicide attacks, and many other brutal incidents, intimidation and threats, displacement as well as global pressure. Livelihood was disrupted due to the loss of lives and barriers were put in place in almost every corner. For the past 10 years, the checkpoints in Omanthai and Muhamalai became free streets to roam. 10 years back the checkpoints and barriers in the North and the South of the country were removed with the hope that the country will never experience such a tragedy again. The Yaal-Devi train which connects the North and the South is a great sense of expression of joy and peace. At the wake of 10 years since one of the greatest humanitarian operations in the world, sadly, our leaders failed to learn from the past, and yet again Sri Lanka is compelled to experience roadblocks set up for the sake of national security, guarded day and night by the brave men and women of the three armed forces and the Police. Shouldn't the peace created by the war heroes, be carried forward for the generations to come without allowing minor extremist groups or political extremism to ruin this nation again? We pose this question not because we oppose the government, but because we are with the people and always will act for the people.