Election was thrust on people by Kumaratunge - Wickremesinghe

[TamilNet, Saturday, 13 March 2004, 02:39 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe addressing a election rally in Kurunagala Friday evening said that Ms.Kumaratunge thrust the general election on the people to cement her political future and to destroy Sri Lanka's welfare, sources said.

Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe addressed several election rallies in support of the United National Party (UNP) in the Kurunagala town and its adjoining areas.

Mr.Wickremasinghe said only the President and her ally the JVP wanted the general election only to come to power and not to solve the problems afflicting Sri Lanka.

He said the UNP would come to power with a good majority as the people wanted permanent peace in the country. His future government would immediately recommence peace talks with the LTTE and would find a permanent political solution to the national question that would be accepted to all communities in Sri Lanka.

Commenting on the UPFA election manifesto Mr.Wickremasinghe said that the UPFA has not clearly stated in its manifesto how it would find solution to northeast problem. The LTTE is unlikely to accept any proposals put forward by the JVP, a major constituent of the UPFA, Wickremesinghe said.

Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe is scheduled to address election meetings in Trincomalee town and Kantalai in support of the UNP candidates Sunday morning and later at Vavuniya, party sources said.