The
patience and restraint shown by the Government despite
the continued violations of the Ceasefire Agreement
by the LTTE had paid its dividends by the agreement
reached to resume talks between the Government and the
LTTE at Geneva, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said.
The
President said that some were looking with scorn at
his patience and the restraint of the Government in
the face of provocations. Some had even drawn cartoons
about it. Yet, he was happy that this patience and restraint
had gained the due dividends when the LTTE agreed to
hold talks with the Government.
Speaking
at a ceremony at the President’s Office, Colombo
yesterday (26), to gift equipment needed for “Daham
Pasalas” or schools giving religious instruction,
President Rajapaksa said he was able to get the LTTE
back to the negotiating table after nearly four years.
He
reiterated the Government’s commitment to bring
about an honourable peace with devolution of power to
the periphery.
The
President also stressed the need to provide “Daham
Pasalas" to children of the Sinhala, Tamil and
Muslim communities who followed Buddhist, Hindu, Christian
or Islamic teachings.
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