Saturday, Feb 05, 2005
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By V.S. Sambandan
COLOMBO, FEB. 4. The Sri Lankan President, Chandrika Kumaratunga, today called for unity and a changed mindset to rebuild the tsunami-devastated country into a "modern progressive and truly Sri Lankan state." Ms. Kumaratunga's appeal came at a public address to the nation to mark the 57th Independence Day in which she urged all Sri Lankans to "draw the lessons from this massive geo-physical upheaval," and to "massively change our thinking and our attitudes" to "unite with those who we consider our enemies, as well as with our friends." The tsunami, Ms. Kumaratunga said, "is the most terrible and clearly the most devastating experience" for the island-nation as "in one hour, the fury of nature destroyed hundreds of thousands of lives." Emphasising that "there is no Sri Lankan who was not affected in one way or another by this gigantic tragedy," the President lauded the efforts made by the nation to overcome the immediate effect of the tsunami. "I can say without the slightest hesitation that I marvel at the ability and dynamism that we Sri Lankans possess. I am simply and truly proud to be a Sri Lankan, to have had the privilege to call myself a citizen of this small but great nation," she said. Ms. Kumaratunga made these remarks after hoisting the national flag at main function at Independence Square in the capital. The low-key Independence Day function started with a two-minute silence as a mark of respect for those who had lost their lives to uphold the country's sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity and the victims of the tsunami. The Prime Minister, Mahinda Rajapakse, Cabinet Minister, heads of armed forces and diplomats were among those who were present at the public function.
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