Colombo's peace attempts, ploy to obtain aid funds- Prof Peiris

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 09 November 2004, 01:36 GMT]
"Sri Lanka President's double-speak is evident from the fact she tells the TNA one thing, and the JVP quite another. Her duplicitous attempts at peace are ploys to obtain aid funds without commencing talks", said Professor G.L.Pieris, who was the Guest speaker at a discussion held in Bright inn Hotel Colombo, Sunday, organized by the Western Province People's Front (WPPF) presided over by its Leader and Parliamentarian, Mano Ganeshan.

The theme of the discussion was "The peace journey - where does it go from here."

Prof. Pieris said "Although Special Envoy Yasusi Akashi was in Sri Lanka last week, to be followed by Norwegian Foreign Minister Jan Peterson Wednesday, the Sri Lanka Government will not be able to make any progress towards peace as it has failed to articulate a unfied stand on the national question. Akashi had stated on his visit that the delay in starting peace talks in Sri Lanka might divert international attention to other conflict destinations and Sri Lanka could suffer consequent isolation."

He added, "Peace talks based on the ISGA is necessary for North-East to bring about a speedy resolution to the immediate needs of the war affected people. The LTTE is not ready to start another bloody war and they welcome Peace talks. The LTTE Leader of Political Wing Mr. P. Thamilselvan was in Europe last month and has expressed the importance of adhering to the CeaseFire Agreement. We should understand LTTE's stand, be flexible, and be ready to take the peace process forward. But Ms Kumaratunge is stubborn and has not shown her willingness to solve the ethnic problem."

Prof. Pieris further said, "We will not let the present impasse continue until 2006. Next year we will form the Government under the leadership of Ranil Wickremasinghe. No President in US can hold office for more than two terms. President Bush, will have to relinquish office at the end of his second term as did Presidentl Clinton at the age of 54. But here in Sri Lanka, there are attempts to even change the Constitution to perpetuate power."

Prof. Pieris expressed his appreciation and commended the WPPF and its leader, Mano Ganeshan, for standing firmly behind the UNF and supporting UNF in its approach to peace.