Chandrika for ethnic unity to rebuild Lanka

Sri Lanka President Chandrika Kumaratunga (F) delivers a speech in Colombo yesterday to mark the country's 57th independence anniversary while heads of the navy, Daya Sandagiri (L) army chief Shantha Kottegoda (C) and airforce commander Donald Perera (R) stand behind her. PHOTO: AFP

Speaking at the Independence Square public park here, Kumaratunga urged a unified approach to tackle the December 26 tragedy that killed nearly 31,000 people and initially left a million homeless.

"I appeal to all Sri Lankans, in all sincerity, that we should draw the lessons from the massive geo-physical upheaval to unite with those who we consider our enemies to rebuild our nation into a modern, progressive and truly Sri Lankan state," Kumaratunga said.

After initial cooperation between the government and the rebel Tamil Tigers over tsunami relief, a row over control of international aid has sparked new tensions.

Talks to set up a joint panel to handle foreign aid remain inconclusive after seven rounds of discussions, according to the Tigers, who have waged a 30-year war for an independent Tamil homeland that has cost at least 60,000 lives.

Kumaratunga used the occasion Friday to reiterate that government aid was reaching all regions of the country.

"In less than one hour after the disaster we commenced to send food and other relief items to the north, south, east and west without discrimination to any religion or community," she stressed.

Describing the tsunami disaster as Sri Lanka's "most devastating experience in living memory", the president praised the nation's resilience.

But she said the task ahead was massive as the country, which usually builds less than 5,000 houses annually, now has to build 75,000 new homes and repair another 150,000.

"Thousands upon thousands of houses, buildings that we built through the centuries were swept away. Not only were many centuries of our sweat and effort ravaged but also a significant portion of our history," she said.

The country also observed a moment's silence for its national heroes as well as those who died in the tsunamis.

In the wake of the tsunamis, Sri Lanka's anniversary celebrations were lacking the usual pomp and pageantry, with displays of military hardware as well as cultural shows being taken off the agenda of celebrations at Independence Square.

Hundreds of survivors, meanwhile, took to streets in the southern Sri Lankan district of Matara to protest corruption in aid distribution. The government has acknowledged that 70 percent of victims have yet to receive any state help.

The government has ordered public servants to work during holidays to speed up relief efforts.