Sri Lanka’s grand celebrations, a military victory parade but also criticism
Colombo (AsiaNews) – Everything is ready for tomorrow when Sri Lanka’s armed forces will celebrate their victory over the Tamil Tigers. Since 18 May, the day when the LTTE’s defeat was announced, the country has been celebrating. Tomorrow a military parade will take place in the capital, broadcast live on television and radio.
Some schools will be closed to house service personnel involved in the National Victory Parade, and few vehicles will be allowed on the capital’s streets.
The programme for the celebrations has already been published, but some are already complaining about the waste of money and all the efforts made to celebrate the victory over the Tamil Tigers at a time when 300,000 Tamil refugees are still languishing in camps.
According to the plan by the Ministry of Public Administration and Home Affairs, units from all three branches of the armed forces will move down Galle Face Green, the capital’s main coastal road.
Navy ships will be deployed along the coast whilst air force planes will streak across the sky, some carrying airborne units who will jump into the air.
Along the seashore, captured Tamil Tiger weapons will be paraded as well.
Across the capital cultural exhibits and shows are planned with some 4,000 artists involved.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa, top army brass and government officials will review the parade from the VIP stand. The chiefs of the Army, navy and air force will tell the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, President Rajapaksa himself, that the war against LTTE terrorism was successfully brought to an end. The president will then read to the nation a short message handed to him by the three military chiefs.
Among ordinary people the government’s grandeur has elicited both approval and criticism. AsiaNews spoke to some of them about tomorrow’s parade.
Fr Reid Shelton Fernando, Catholic priest
“These celebrations will hurt the feelings of the Tamil minority. The country has celebrated enough. Now some groups are trying to monopolise all the honours, but many played a role in the victory. There is also the expense. More money has been spent in celebrating the victory than in helping the refugees.”
Shanthini Mookandhi, Tamil teacher and mother of two
“As a Tamil woman I am totally opposed to these celebrations. I can realise why the Sinhalese armed forces and government will want to celebrate their victory, but for me participating in the celebrations is like not caring for the plight of Tamil refugees and victims of this war. It seems that they are more interested in blowing their own horn than worrying about the victims. The government should use this money to quickly resettle the victims of the conflict. Closing schools for three days creates another problem so that even children end up paying for their celebrations. To make up for lost days, schools will remain open for three more days at the end of the year but children will not go to class. The government should have found other accommodations to house guests instead of using school buildings.”
Buddhist monk who prefers to withhold his identity
“I respect the government and the army for the victory, but I cannot agree with these never-ending celebrations and the waste of money. Some monks say that they show the world the grandeur of our president, defence secretary and the courage of our armed forces. We should also understand the feelings of the Tamil victims and we cannot forget that many of our soldiers have spent the better part of their lives in this war.”
Samson Hettiarachchi, public servant
“We must celebrate and extend our blessing. If the leaders of our Church say that this is a great victory after long years of a brutal war and congratulate the president, we too must participate in these celebrations which commemorate the sacrifice of all those who fought to end the conflict. This way, our children will know about what happened when they study in school the history of our country.”
Ven Agalakada Sirisumana Thero, university lecturer
“It is a pity that schools have been closed for three days. But it is not something to worry about because not all schools have been closed. This is a great victory for us who lived in fear for so many years.”
.png)
24/01/2014
