Colombo: A patriotic front has stepped forward to raise the morale of soldiers, their families and villagers living in vulnerable areas in the wake of an escalation of violence by the Tamil Tigers.
The National Patriotic Movement (NPM) is carrying out a programme with the backing of the Marxist JVP, which has many members of the NPM on it.
As part of the programme NPM members travelled to the northern Jaffna peninsula Thursday where they visited front line soldiers.
Weeklong programmes have been launched to raise the morale of the soldiers fighting the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE) and to collect funds for the families of the soldiers who have been killed in battle.
Part of the programme to collect funds for them will be through the sale of stickers and badges while the business community is also expected to fund their programme.
The programme is the first of this nature since a similar programme organised by a former minister of the Chandrika Kumaratunga government came to an abrupt end after a suicide bomber exploded himself killing the minister and several others during a fund-raising march.
The programme, which was halted suddenly in the late 1990s, was aimed at firing up the country at a time when the LTTE had stepped up its attacks in the north and east.
The new programme known as ‘Manel Mal Movement’ started off on Monday with the first flag being sold to President Mahinda Rajapakse and other Sri Lankan officials.
President Rajapakse called on all to appreciate the contribution of the Armed Forces which have valiantly defended the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“All should realise that others can live safely in other areas because of the sacrifices made by these noble men and women,” he said.
“All communities should stand up as one to appreciate the contribution of our Armed Forces,” President Rajapakse told the gathering. The programme comes at a time when the government is trying to recruit more soldiers to the security forces.
The National Patriotic Movement (NPM) is carrying out a programme with the backing of the Marxist JVP, which has many members of the NPM on it.
As part of the programme NPM members travelled to the northern Jaffna peninsula Thursday where they visited front line soldiers.
Weeklong programmes have been launched to raise the morale of the soldiers fighting the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE) and to collect funds for the families of the soldiers who have been killed in battle.
Part of the programme to collect funds for them will be through the sale of stickers and badges while the business community is also expected to fund their programme.
The programme is the first of this nature since a similar programme organised by a former minister of the Chandrika Kumaratunga government came to an abrupt end after a suicide bomber exploded himself killing the minister and several others during a fund-raising march.
The programme, which was halted suddenly in the late 1990s, was aimed at firing up the country at a time when the LTTE had stepped up its attacks in the north and east.
The new programme known as ‘Manel Mal Movement’ started off on Monday with the first flag being sold to President Mahinda Rajapakse and other Sri Lankan officials.
President Rajapakse called on all to appreciate the contribution of the Armed Forces which have valiantly defended the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“All should realise that others can live safely in other areas because of the sacrifices made by these noble men and women,” he said.
“All communities should stand up as one to appreciate the contribution of our Armed Forces,” President Rajapakse told the gathering. The programme comes at a time when the government is trying to recruit more soldiers to the security forces.
