Spur activities to ensure sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka

From 1994 SPUR worked to counter the propaganda of the LTTE Support network living in Australia. The very first activity of the newly formed association was a rally and demonstration. Marching from the Shrine of the Unknown soldier to the Federation Square in Swanston Street over 5000 Sri Lankans joined the march. The placards described the atrocities of the LTTE in near graphic detail. The LTTE supporters were out in force to video and photograph this event. They had been given the impression that this rally was to be a peace march. Imagine their surprise when they saw the placards!

SPUR also organised many other activities to highlight the massacres and atrocities committed by the LTTE the political assassinations, the suicide bombings in public places and heinous attacks on villagers sleeping after a hard day’s work.

SPUR provided material for a conference and a photographic exhibition in Oslo organised by a Norwegian group who opposed the support given by their government to the LTTE. Ranjith Soysa and H. L. D Mahindapala, a veteran journalist, represented SPUR at this event. SPUR also sent representatives to Geneva to present counter arguments to the claims made by the LTTE supporters.

Distributing leaflets at public transport terminals, holding demonstrations and protests in public places, SPUR showed the LTTE to be what they really were a cruel, ruthless terrorists group.

Apart from these activities, SPUR also carried out welfare work. We organised a massive fund-raising event in every corner of Melbourne for which Sri Lankans contributed a minimum of $10.00 in recognition of this an elaborate certificate was issued as thanks for the donation. We raised over $40,000 which was donated to the army. The funds were used to construct an apparel factory in Yakkala where disabled service personnel worked to manufacture uniforms for the troops.

Another important program which SPUR carries out even today is the sponsorship of school children initially it was intended to ensure that children of service personnel whose fathers had died or become disabled in battle continued their education. Later children of families affected by terrorist activity were also included. SPUR coordinated the sponsors and the recipient children. The sponsors went over and above the requirements of the program, giving gifts on special occasions as well. At first the children were primary school students. Later, as they grew up their higher school studies were also sponsored right through to university level. Today many of these children are doctors or teachers or in other professions.

With the prevalence of suicide bombers deployed in public places by the LTTE, SPUR began a sniffer dog program. We donated around 10 or so pairs of dogs to be trained to sniff bombs and explosives. These were deployed in places where the public gathered.

We also reached out to other likeminded organisations to work in unison to counter the LTTE propaganda worldwide.

These are only a few of the activities of SPUR carried out over the years. We did this to ensure the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our motherland.