War was waged to save Tamils from LTTE: Rajapaksa

Colombo, May 19: Calling the victory over Tamil Tigers a victory of the nation, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Tuesday, May 19 said that the country is now 'liberated from terrorism'.

While addressing the parliament the President said, "The victory we have achieved by defeating the LTTE is the victory of our country, our motherland. To protect the Tamil population in this country is my responsibility and duty."

Rajapaksa said that the war was launched in order to save the Tamils from the 'clutch of LTTE ' and said that in an effort to save the Tamil civilians the soldiers of the country laid their lives.

The president vowed to ensure that everyone will live with equal rights and that no one should live in fear.

"They should live with equal rights. That is my expectation too. Let us all be united and build up this independent country. Today we have been able to liberate the country from the clutches of LTTE," he said.

Even as he addressed the parliament, reports of a pro-LTTE website claiming that Prabhakaran was 'alive and safe' was pouring in. And the President did not make any statements over the death of the rebel leader Prabhakaran.

OneIndia News