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The LTTE has set up some institutions in the areas under its control. We do not accept that those institutions are legal. But they perform some important functions. Those functions are connected with the day-to-day life of the people living in that area. Since the Government is not able to set up its own institutions and run those services for the people, it is pointless to demand the abolition of those institutions and to sabotage the peace process, said Internationally acclaimed feminist and social worker Sunila Abeysekera.

She was speaking at a workshop on 'Line up for Peace' conducted at Galewela Town Hall organised by the Dambulla Community Resources Development Centre.

Executive Director 'Centre for Policy Alternatives Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, representative of the Sri Lanka Peace Council Sivagurunathan, Editor of 'Sama Wimarshi' magazine Lional Guruge, Galewela Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman R.M. Wijetunge Banda and Secretary host organisation S.D.A. Fernando addressed the workshop.

The chief incumbent of Makulugaswewa Sri Sugatharamaya temple Venerable Dewahuwe Chandananda Thera presided over the meeting and performed Buddhist religious rituals.

Abeysekera said that some media institutions in the country publish information to mislead the people and to create doubts in their minds. The people in the North and South have different ideas about the peace process. When the people in the South suspect the activities and statements of the LTTE, the people in the North suspect the actions and statements of the Government.

The speaker disclosed that there are about one lakh of Tamil people of Indian origin who do not have citizenship rights. The Police officers and many members of the Armed Forces working in the North and East do not have sufficient knowledge in Tamil. When a Tamil person goes to a Police station under the Central Government to lodge a complaint very seldom could the officers record the statement in Tamil. Under the background mentioned above the LTTE maintaining certain institutions in the uncleared areas have to be looked in a positive manner.

Dr. P. Saravanamuttu said many comment about the outcome of the several meetings recently conducted between the Government and the LTTE. Both parties have to come to an agreement step by step. Before going to deal with the difficult problems they have to agree-upon the issues connected with the people living in the areas concerned. their life has to be normalised. The mutual trust has to be built. If people in the area undergoing hardships cannot get relief there will be less value in the peace talks.

He said after conducting several rounds of talks, the political issues will be taken up. Democratic reforms have to be introduced. Three committees have been set up to deal with the important issues connected with the people in the North and East.

Saravanamuttu said the first sub-committee has to deal with the humanitarian aid for the needy people. Construction of roads, schools, hospitals and de-mining are some of the tasks entrusted to this sub committee. The second sub committee is looking for the re-establishing normalcy. There are 700,000 internally displaced people to be re-settled. Peace is the pre-requisite for them to go back to their former homes.

the third sub-committee deals with the political issues. Adoption of a new constitution is the main task to be taken up by this institution in the near future.

Highlighting the importance of the first anniversary of the UNF Government, he said that we have moved from ceasefire to setting up of sub committees within the course of one year. Creating peace between the Government and the LTTE is not enough; peace should be among the people at ground level. The peace should be with democracy, human rights, and dignity. The reconciliation among the parties concerned, preferably between the Army and the LTTE is important. The injured have to forget their wounds. To deal with the past; to repair the broken hearts.

In conclusion Saravanamuttu appealed to the public to do their part, while the leaders talk at the top level everyone has to play a role. The media, civil society organisations, religious leaders and everyone in the society has to act to bring about the peace to the country torn a part by the 20 year war.

Venerable Chandananda Thera, R.M. Wijetunge Banda, Nimal Palitha and M. Ariyasinghe were among the local people who expressed their views. 

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