June 03, 2010: Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga said at a function yesterday that although the war had been won, peace had not been won as yet.
Ms. Kumaratunga was speaking at a function in Colombo where two books written in line with the completion of 22 years since the establishment of provincial councils in the country and the completion of a year since the establishment of the fifth Western provincial council were launched.
“We have finished a war and we have won it successfully. I wish to extend my appreciation and thanks to the President and all those who engaged in it. But we are yet to win over peace. We have still not even started winning it over. Incidentally, we have not even taken the first step in this process.
“We need to think about this. To do this we need to think about giving out certain things in our possession to others as well. Other people too have rights. Even they too have toiled for years to build this nation. They too have shed blood like us. They too have shed tears. We have to understand the sufferings people had to undergo and realize that they too have a right to this cake.
“The more we distance these people, more problems could arise,” said the former president.
Ms. Kumarathunga also commented on the developments taking place.
“I’m the one who signed the documents with China with regard to the Hambantota port and Norochcholai. These are moving forward today. This is commendable.
“However, certain things I signed have been halted. When I went to China and signed the agreement on Norochcholai and Hambantota, I signed an agreement for an electric railway line from Katunayake to Colombo on the 26th of August, 2005. I don’t know what had happened to that. If this electric train had been implemented, it would have been a major boost for our economy and the arrival of tourists.
“I am also a part of this party, but I’m being treated as if I’m not.
“People who talked to me are also afraid to talk to me,” she said amidst ripples of laughter, and added, “They talk to me hurriedly and then leave. I don’t understand why.”
