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In his opening remarks
to the members present from all political parties represented
in parliament, other than the TNA, President Rajapaksa
said there was a window of opportunity made available
to Sri Lanka to seek a solution to the ethnic conflict
and achieve a lasting peace, arising from the listing
of the LTTE as a terrorist organization by the 25 member
European Union; the statement of the Co-Chairs on Sri
Lanka’s Peace Process, and the new awareness about
the LTTE among the international community.
He said it was necessary
to begin work without delay on formulating the framework
of a political solution to the ethnic conflict by way
of the greater devolution of power in an undivided country.
The envisaged solution should as far as possible be
a “home grown” one that suits the needs
of the country, making use of the best experiences in
other countries.
President Rajapaksa
explained the urgency of the need for a solution and
the necessity to think afresh on the entire issue, as
well as, the awareness that any solution which will
be imposed unilaterally will not achieve the desired
results. He added that it was the duty of the political
parties of today and all other interested groups to
help in solving this issue giving it the highest priority,
as all the problems caused by it cannot be passed down
to the next generation.
He urged the members
to be as flexible as possible in dealing with what was
undoubtedly a vexed issue and as to seek common ground
on the framework for a more detailed solution, conscious
of the fact that in the opinion of all members, despite
other differences over policies, all parties were agreed
on the need for negotiations with the LTTE and the achieving
of a negotiated settlement.
The UNP’s deputy
leader Mr. Karu Jayasuriya said his party was supportive
of a negotiated peace and would support a federal solution
based on the Oslo Declaration. He also pointed out the
need for the Government to act in keeping with the Constitution
in all its current activities, and not to place obstacles
in the way of opposition parties carrying out their
political activities.
Mr. Somawansa Amarasinghe,
leader of the JVP, said his party was for negotiations
with the LTTE, but emphasized the need for caution with
regard to foreign involvement in Sri Lanka’s internal
affairs. Concluding his remarks the JVP leader appealed
to President Rajapaksa to issue a call to all children
carrying arms for the LTTE to surrender their arms and
return to normal life, with the assurance that the President
would provide for their education and rehabilitation.
Mrs. Ferial Ashraff,
leader of the National Unity Alliance, said it was necessary
that whatever solution proposed responds to the needs
of the other party to the conflict, and that the proposed
Board of Advisors should represent the widest political
opinion, for the All Party Committee to have fruitful
discussions.
Mr. Susil Premajayantha,
speaking for the SLFP, impressed on the need for a negotiated
solution acceptable to all, which should not be confined
to traditions forms of governance, but should seek a
unique Sri Lankan solution, as far as possible. He expressed
the hope that it would be possible for the proposed
committee to work out a framework and the limitations
of a solution which would serve as an entry to serious
negotiations.
The APC was also addressed
by the Ven. Ellawala Medhananda Thera, leader of the
JHU, Mr. Dinesh Gunewerdena, leader of the MEP, Mr.
Douglas Devananda, leader of the EPDP, Mr. D. E. W.
Gunasekera, General Secretary of the Communist Party
of Sri Lanka, Prof. Tissa Vitharana, General Secretary
of the LSSP, and representatives of the SLMC, the All
Ceylon Muslim Congress, the Up-Country People’s
Front, the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, the National Congress,
the Ceylon Workers Congress and the Western People’s
Front.
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