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PM tells public, political parties: Support Govt to 'Regain Sri Lanka'

By Ananda Kannangara

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, backing a resolution at the UNP Annual Convention called on the masses and political parties to support the peace initiative of the government.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, backing a resolution at the UNP Annual Convention called on the masses and political parties to support the peace initiative of the present government.

Four resolutions were passed at the UNP's 48th Annual Convention among which was a motion for depoliticisation to ensure freedom of the people.

The Premier asked all countrymen whether they would prefer to convert the country into a battlefield by continuing the war with the LTTE or to go ahead with the peace process and maintain Sri Lanka's territorial integrity.

Government Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Parliamentarians and UNP district committee members were present at the convention conducted under the theme "Regaining Sri Lanka".

The four resolutions adopted at the 48th convention are the vesting of powers of the UNP National Executive Committee to the working committee, to assist the Government in its endeavour of achieving a lasting solution to the war, to improve the collapsed economy up to a certain extent and pass more benefits to the people and also extend the party's cooperation towards the Government's development programs.

He said all major countries including the USA, England, Japan, Norway, Russia, China, India and organisations such as the United Nations and the European Union are solidly behind Sri Lanka. "We should not throw away this last chance of achieving an everlasting solution to this two-decades old war."

"If we succeed in achieving our ultimate goal at this crucial moment we can save thousands of precious lives."

The Prime Minister said that terminating the war at this juncture will immensely help to develop the country's economy and fulfil the Government's objective of creating the targeted two million jobs within the next three years.

"Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia which were below us in economic terms, raised their heads later due to major development projects. With the current peaceful atmosphere we too must use our strength to achieve this goal and create a respectable economic situation."

"But if we do not take up this challenge seriously Sri Lanka could become another Ethiopia", he added.

The Prime Minister also said that his Government had to confront a collapsed economy when they came to power in December last year but due to numerous development programs they were able to convert the minus economy to a three per cent positive growth during the first year in office.

Recollecting his memories, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe said that after the country regained independence in 1948 Prime Minister D.S Senanayake was able to work with all minorities including the Tamils but lamented over the ethnic struggles that started in 1956 when Prime Minister S.W.R.D Bandaranaike accepted Sinhala as the official language.

Commenting about the developments of the current peace process, the Premier said the peace talks held in Oslo and Norway showed fruitful results and the Government is now confident over the success of future peace talks.

"Unlike earlier now people enjoy more and more benefits with the success of the peace process. They can now freely move about without fear. But still there are politicians who are not happy with this peace process thinking they can't fulfil their personal obligations.

"During the last election period they branded our party and myself saying that we had secret pacts with the LTTE and ultimately called us as Ali -Koti (Elephant -Tigers) Havula."

But many of those who spoke against us have now realised that the Government is going through proper channels with International support to eradicate terrorism from this land and create a system of government within a united Sri Lanka, he added.

UNP Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya said the majority of people in the country have realised that the present Government during the first year in office has laid a strong foundation to stop the war and also to provide an uninterrupted power supply to the people.

"We have now focused our attention towards the improving of the country's economy by launching several development projects from 2003, so that we will be able to provide more employment to youth."

Minister Jayasuriya said the construction work of the 29 kilometre long bridge between Mannar and Rameshwaram and the crude oil excavation program in Lankan waters too will be commenced next year.

"People commend our political ideas. Unlike other political parties we have never taken revenge from members of Opposition parties after the last General Elections," he added.

Minister Rauf Hakeem expressed his party's confidence over the Government's achievements during the past one year and said that their fullest support will be extended to the Government in the years to come.

Minister S.B.Dissanayake said that as there was no proper financial plans the previous Government had collapsed within one year.

"The former Government had to obtain loans from state banks and various Government institutions," he said.

Ministers Imitiaz Bakeer Markar, Dr. Rajitha Senaratna, M.H. Mohomad, Johnston Fernando, P. Chandrasekaran, R.A.D. Sirisena and Deputy Minister Muthu Sivalingam and MP Gayantha Karunatilleka also spoke. 

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Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
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