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New Year message from Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena Minister of Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Refugees

The Tamil Sinhala New Year in 2002 is not yet another beginning of a year, but it is of great historical speciality. The Sinhalese and the Tamils of this nation proudly join together in welcoming a new era of permanent peace and prosperity.

This unique New Year is an occasion of meeting with long lost relatives and friends for over a decade, especially for the Tamils who had been only experiencing enormous hardships. They are able to experience a day-to-day life without being stopped at security checkpoints, lead a fear free life. The communal disagreements that prevailed in the country are being wiped away gradually. Tamils and the Sinhalese identify each other as equal human beings, and enjoy the relief of freedom. Hence, I am extremely happy in joining together with all of you and wishing you all the most prosperous and peaceful New Year at this remarkable beginning.

The Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, who is determined in bringing back permanent peace, has courageously initiated the peace negotiations with the LTTE in which we have already witnessed the favourable results. The Memorandum of Understanding between the Sri Lankan Government and the LTTE that was entered into is the foundation of our journey towards a flourishing Sri Lanka. Therefore as proud citizens of this nation let us work together in restoring our country, which had been affected terribly due to various conflicts over many years.

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Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
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