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The conclusion of the first round of negotiations between the Government and the LTTE in Thailand has raised public optimism that the current peace process could lead to a negotiated political settlement of Lanka's ethnic problem.

A 'Daily News' reporting team consisting of Karel Roberts Ratnaweera, Ranga Jayasuriya and Rashomi Silva sounded out a wide cross section of local opinion on the issues the successful first round of GOSL-LTTE negotiations threw up. Given below are some of these responses:

Kethish Loganathan - Centre for Policy Alternatives:

"Balasingham's statement indicates LTTE's willingness to work within a united state".

There is an emerging consensus between the Government and the LTTE in the decision to set up a task force - where both will be partners - for the reconstruction, rehabilitation and resettlement in the North and the East.

"The road to peace, will be long and, of course, with many a hurdles and challenges.

"There are spoilers, war merchants and hard liners on both sides".

The Government should have the political will to implement what they agreed to do at the negotiating table. "A huge burden lies on the Government.

"And the past track records of the LTTE are not so impressive. The LTTE needs to maintain the commitment which Mr. Balasingham expressed at the press conference,".

Mannar Bishop Rayappu Joseph: "Balasingham's statement is a reiteration of the LTTE's previous claim that it is ready to consider 'dignified alternatives'."

"So many years they have been saying they would come to a compromise if there are dignified alternatives. That is what Balasingham re-emphasised on Wednesday".

Ven. Muruttettuwe Ananda Thera: "Unlike the peace efforts during the tenure of President Jayawardene to President Kumaratunga's effort in 94, the ceasefire is holding for a long time".

"Since the implementation of the Ceasefire Agreement, there were no coffins coming to villages, no war casualties, no security barriers.

"Balasingham's statement, will diminish fears of the public that the talks will result in the separation of the country. The "peace process should not be mixed with party politics".

Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera: "There should be devolution of powers within a single country. "Not a separate state".

"What we want is a country where all, irrespective of ethnic, religious, or political differences can live with dignity." Flexibility should be exercised by both parties.

"There is no need for negotiations, if either party wants to remain stubbornly on its previous position". N. M. Siriyawathi of Hinuduma: "No fighting is going on since the implementation of the Ceasefire Agreement and we are relieved after a long years of mental stress".

"The end to the war means that no killings on the battle front and it means no mother or wife will lose their sons and daughters".

Saman Jayaratne, food stall owner: Bad days are gradually coming to an end.

"People are in the streets till midnight, there are many going out for recreation activities".

TULF President V. Anandasangaree: I feel happy that the LTTE has come to a 'compromise'.

"At the very outset when the struggle was in our hands, we demanded regional autonomy, but the Government ignored".

"The negligence of the Government to the legitimate rights of Tamils, resulted in the LTTE taking to the struggle.

"Their demands were high which is understandable given the changing socio-political climate".

"But now both parties seem to have reached a compromise. What the Government should do is to address the grievances of minorities and give them equal status".

Dr. Wester Modder - former Director of the Tea research Institute (TRI): If the outcome of the process is successful, Sri Lanka should be handled by a Central Government; division of the country is totally unacceptable. An extreme form of Federalism would not be what is needed as the island is too small for such governments.

'All ethnic groups should be represented in Parliament with the majority to represent interest groups. 'The mistake was made in 1948 just after Independence when we clung to our separate identities. The concept of Ceylonism was not thought of. We thought of ourselves as Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims, Burghers or whatever. A central government should be properly represented in Parliament. The presence of intellectuals in Parliament would be a very good thing.'

'Every citizen of the country should be free to live wherever he or she chooses;there should be no special areas for anyone . Everyone should be absolutely free to move and live where they want.

Author Punyakanthi Wijenaike: It is premature to say anything at this point, adding 'but we should be thankful for the peace we have now. It must be a tremendous relief for people who were involved in the war.'

"At least at the moment there is freedom on the roads and people are now able to go about freely without fear of checkpoints and road blocks. 'We can only pray that the peace process will be successful.

Chloe de Soysa - Company Director: "I long for a lasting peace founded on mutual understanding & the welfare of all our people, regardless of race, geographical area or numbers.

Thushyanthan and Jayanth (both 23 years) from Jaffna University: "We are all for peace. It is our hope and wish that the peace talks will be successful this time. And a time will come again that we can live together in harmony as our parents and grandparents had lived during their youth in those good old days.

We believe the peace talks will be successful this time, There are positive signs. No single peace truce lasted this long. This alone is a good sign.

Both the Government and the LTTE seem to be genuine. The manner the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is handling the peace issue is admirable. He never rushed for peace talks. The mistake all the other governments committed in the past was that they rushed for peace talks.

"He understood that very well and is making a gradual progress. We have a strong faith in government specially in Prime Minister. He is engaged in gentlemanly politics and he does not seek narrow political gains. Most of us in Jaffna admire him.

Please don't get the wrong impression that we are supporting any political party. We do not like politics at all. What we are trying to say is that after signing the MOU our lives have changed for the good, this has never happened in the past. This is the first time we are visiting Colombo.

We were not harassed at check points actually we didn't come across any check point in Colombo and we are able to move freely and to enjoy ourselves. Past governments were not genuinely interested in peace; they had ulterior motives. That was why peace talks collapsed on previous occasions".[back]

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