"The year 2009 will be the year when our motherland would be finally liberated from the LTTE," President Mahinda Rajapaksa said.

The President was speaking on victories achieved this year and goals for the new year to a gathering of religious dignitaries, intellectuals, professionals, politicians, artistes and others at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo yesterday (Dec. 22nd).

"There will be many attempts to stall the forward march of the security forces. Malicious elements have already begun to create political unrest by making many problems for the government in an attempt to save terrorists from their imminent defeat. Therefore, I expect that there would be testy times ahead. For this very reason, I would like to declare 2009 as a year of victory for heroic soldiers.

At this meeting, Chief Minister of East Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan and MP Vinayagamurthi Muralitharan alias Karuna Amman were seen strongly backing the sentiments of the President.

Several months earlier, President Mahinda Rajapaksa declared 2009 as an elections year.

Accordingly, the north western and central provincial councils were dissolved in a bid for fresh polls.

Giving a brief about the military victories achieved in the year, the President invited all patriotic political parties to join him in order to defeat the conspiracies against the year of victory for heroic soldiers.

 "I especially request of this from the National Freedom Front of Wimal Weerawansa, who supported us during the last budget while being in the opposition," he said.

"I further request the JVP that assisted me to obtain the mandate of the people at the 2005 presidential election, to join us to create a better tomorrow for the country, instead of being in politics which would do no good to themselves, the country or its future," he further said.

The President called on "patriotic forces in the UNP" to assist him to win the war against terrorism and to take the country to prosperity, thereby safeguarding the prestige and honour of the grand old party.

"I invite all political parties, be it Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims or of any other community, to join us in the future to defeat terrorism," President Rajapaksa said.

 He also warned that if the LTTE refuses to release all civilians in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu by the year end, the government would proscribe the LTTE and seek to wipe out the outfit from the face of earth.

"We should prepare to face the year 2009. Regardless of any obstacle, let us join hands to defeat separatist terrorism and to realize year of victory for heroic soldiers”.

Courtesy: Lankadissent