SL parliament to hold one-day debate on peace process

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 May 2005, 15:59 GMT]
Leaders of political parties represented in Sri Lanka's parliament, during a meetging held Monday in the Speaker's Chamber,decided to hold a full day debate on the stalled peace process on Friday on a request made by Mr.R.Sampanthan, leader of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), parliamentary sources in Colombo said. Mr.Sampanthan will open the debate.

The peace process which started following the signing of the Ceasefire Agreement on 22 February 2002 by the then United National Front (UNF) government led by the United National Party (UNP) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was stalled during the latter part of 2003 after LTTE submitted its proposal for the establishment of Interim Self Governing Authority (ISGA).

Sri Lanka's President Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge then took over three important ministries from the then UNF government, dissolved the parliament and held a general election in April 2004.

The United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) formed by the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) with other leftist small political parties was voted to power defeating the then UNF government.