<p>Sri Lanka’s former president Mahinda Rajapaksa called on people to “protect our motherland from enemy forces” in a New Year’s message released yesterday.</p>
<p>“I wish all Sri Lankans a new year full of new hope and optimism,” he <a href="http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/-Hope-all-Sri-Lankans-will-unite-to-p…">said</a>.</p>
<p>“With the dawn of 2019, it is my fervent hope that all Sri Lankans will be able to lay aside differences based on religion and ethnicity and unite to protect our motherland from enemy forces”.</p>
<p>Rajapaksa headed the Sri Lankan government as it launched a massive military offensive that killed tens of thousands of Tamils in 2009. The operation saw widespread bombing of civilian targets, including hospitals, sexual violence and the execution of surrendering Tamils. To date, no one has been held accountable for the crimes committed.</p>
<p>His message comes after Rajapaksa gave up the post of prime minister last month, following his appointment by current president Maithripala Sirisena in October. Though he gave up the post, Rajapaksa retains strong popularity amongst Sinhala Buddhists.</p>
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