Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Wednesday asserted that the government was vigilant against any efforts by the remnants of the LTTE to regroup after the rebel outfit's chief Velupillai Prabhakaran was killed three months ago.
"The government stays vigilant over the potential for regrouping of LTTE terrorists and takes measures to arrest the LTTE's overseas leaders to protect national security," Rajapaksa said.
He said persons who pose a "threat to democracy of Sri Lanka", irrespective of wherever they are, would be dealt with strongly. "The government will take necessary actions to defeat them," Rajapaksa said at a felicitation ceremony for him at the gem city of Ratnapura in south-western Sri Lanka.
"The new freedom of Sri Lanka is defined as a freedom gained without bowing down to any powerful country," the President told the gathering.
The government is now implementing massive development projects to strengthen the country's economy, he said adding, his intention is to "rebuild this country in a way that nobody can divide it." All communities must assist in rebuilding the nation, he said.
Other than the President, Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Commanders of the three Services, Inspector General of Police and Civil Defence Force Chief were also felicitated during the ceremony.
{{/usCountry}}Other than the President, Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Commanders of the three Services, Inspector General of Police and Civil Defence Force Chief were also felicitated during the ceremony.
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