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By Upali S. Dharmabandhu

A solution to the North-East problem should not only safeguard the independence of the judiciary and the media, but it must also protect the rights of all citizens, stated Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe at the BMICH on Thursday.

Prime Minister Wickremesinghe was addressing a conference organised by the Sri Lanka National Lawyers' Commission and the Centre for Policy Alternatives on the theme "Democracy and the significance of independence of the Judiciary in the peace process of Sri Lanka".

"Lord Brenen Q.C., in his keynote address said that for the peace process to succeed the citizens must have decent jobs. There should also be an independent judiciary. I endorse this view. The country has benefitted from the ceasefire agreement," the Prime Minister said.

Premier Wickremesinghe said that many parts of the North have been devastated by the war. The government has to rehabilitate the North-East and remove millions of landmines to make the area safe for human habitation. The benefits of the peace process are evident today throughout the country. We have invited international cooperation for this effort.

The premier said that former US President Bill Clinton explained to him the strategy adopted to solve the Northern Ireland problem. He was determined to face all challenges and go ahead with the peace process for whose implementation he has appointed two Special Task Forces.

He observed that protection of the citizens' rights by the State is paramount in his opinion and that he is paying attention to formulate methods under numerous state levels to assert the people's rights to worship any religion and to follow any culture of their choice.

"The United States of America which is today the strongest nation in the world, began with only 13 states. The contribution of the US Supreme Court towards achieving this status is no small. Yet, in crises such as enactment of laws to abolish slavery, the US President had to traverse a path little short of arresting the Chief Justice. That President is now hailed as the greatest of all American Presidents."

He said he never advocated war as a solution to the North-East problem. A decision on the nature of the administrative machinery that has to be evolved would take some more time, said the Premier.

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