PA allies support UNF government's peace efforts

[TamilNet, Saturday, 21 December 2002, 04:18 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Communist party, one of the constituents of the main opposition Peoples Alliance (PA) Friday pledged its full support to the peace efforts now being taken forward by the United National Front (UNF), sources in Colombo said.

Mr.Raja Collure, parliamentarian and a politburo member of the Communist party addressing the seventeenth annual national convention of the party held Friday in Colombo said," the UNF government has laid a firm foundation for peace and both sides have made steady progress in the peace talks. We have now arrived at a crucial stage."

"Satisfactory political solution can be negotiated if the both parties concerned are honestly and firmly committed to finding a lasting peace in the country," said Mr. Collure.

The general secretary of the Communist party and a former parliamentarian Mr.D.E.W.Gunasekara said all sections of the people could live peacefully without dividing the country if everyone recognized and respected others rights.

Mr.Mahinda Rajapakse, Leader of the Opposition and a leader of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, the general secretary of the PA and parliamentarian Mr.D.M.Jayaratne, the leader of the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEP) Mr.Dinesh Gunawardene and, a former minister Mr.A.H.M.Fowsie were also present at the convention.

Meanwhile the Sri Lanka Mahajana Party (SLMP) also Friday expressed its support to the UNF peace efforts. The SLMP is also a constituent of the main opposition PA. The general secretary of the SLMP Mr.Ajit Navaratne addressing party annual general meeting held Friday in Kurunagala said that his party always supported a political solution to the ethnic conflict by devolving powers to regions.

"When the Provincial Council (PC) system was introduced in the country several political parties opposed it and boycotted the elections to the provincial councils. However, the SLMP contested the PC election though it lost seventeen of its members and leaders in the struggle, said Mr. Navaratne who is a member of the Western Provincial Council.