Appointing retired military officers to government positions is not militarization, says PM

Colombo (News 1st); Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa said, on the 19th of May we mark the 11th anniversary of the victory against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, and NOT a war against the Tamil people but against an organization designated by the FBI as the deadliest terrorists in the world.

In a media release issued to commemorate the 11th Anniversary of the victory against the LTTE, the Premier said due to the defeat of the LTTE, Tamil people are now free to live as they wish.

He went onto note, "Tamil children are no longer forcibly recruited by the LTTE. Tamil politicians no longer live in fear of LTTE assassins.

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa also said, the armed forces and police that amazed the entire world by winning what was widely considered to be an unwinnable war, are now once again engaged in a joint operation with the state health sector in combating Covid-19.

According to the Premier, all indications are that Sri Lanka is winning the battle against COVID -19 as well.

The Prime Minister said if a retired member of the armed forces is appointed to some position in the government it is not militarization because a person who has retired from the armed forces is a civilian and no longer a member of the military.

He said as long as the present government is in power there will always be former members of the armed forces and police holding various positions in the government.