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by Victor Jayanetti, Our London Correspondent

Industrial Development and Constitutional Affairs Minister Professor G. L. Peiris told expatriates in London that the whole country now understands the need for a permanent solution to the ethnic conflict that has ravaged the North and east for the last twenty years.

Professor Peiris made these observations at the Sri Lanka High Commission in London where he met the members of United National Party's UK branch on 10th September 2002.

He is on a tour of England and America to meet business people to canvass for new investments in Sri Lanka, in the wake of forthcoming peace talks between the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

Speaking on the peace process and the 19th amendment, he said that the government under the leadership of Ranil Wickremesinghe is working untiringly to achieve this goal. He explained that even if the government wants to find a solution to the problem, the president could arbitrarily dissolve the parliament after 5th December 2002 using the powers vested on her by the constitution. Though she has sent a letter to the Speaker that she would not dissolve the parliament on its first anniversary, the Minister said that her words cannot be trusted and constitutionally, such a letter has no authority.

Professor Peiris emphasised the importance of getting through the 19th Amendment in the parliament by a two-thirds majority. He speculated that the government already has the required support from opposition MPs and explained that once the 19th amendment is passed, the president cannot dissolve the parliament in such an arbitrary manner. He also mentioned that the president is avoiding cabinet meetings nowadays where they are due to make very important decisions.

He added that the government is very optimistic about the peace process although certain politicians, especially in the opposition party, are actively trying to sabotage it.

He further said that the initial talks in Thailand will last for three days. He also revealed that after the first round of talks with the LTTE, the Prime Minister expected to go to New York to discuss with US officials possible investment opportunities in Sri Lanka.

Professor Peiris was expected to meet several top level members of the British business community yesterday before returning to Sri Lanka. 

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