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| Monday, 23 June 2003 |
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| President impressed with SLFP-JVP talks by Vyman Hettiarachchi and Ranga Jayasuriya President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga addressing the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) convention yesterday said that she was impressed with the progress of the talks between the SLFP and the JVP. The SLFP Convention endorsed a resolution - presented by Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapakse - calling for the setting up of the broadest possible alliance under the SLFP to "democratically" oust the UNP led Government which the resolution stressed had led to a separate State in the North and East through its "bogus" peace effort. "Within the nine months of discussions, the two parties have agreed on a practical and conceptual agenda to rebuild the country," the President said. Emphasising that she is an elected leader, the President stressed that she will not confine herself to be a "rubber stamp". She said while the Cabinet had passed five cabinet papers in her absence, her "timely intervention" prevented the Petroleum Corporation and the Ceylon Electricity Board being privatised by the UNP. She accused two Ministers of fraud and financial irregularities in the Southern Highway construction project. But did not name them. The President said she ordered the Navy action against the suspected LTTE arms smuggling vessel sunk by the Navy off Mullaitivu. "Now Marapane is trying to get the credit," she said. The President said she will not compromise national dignity for peace, however, adding that the PA will continue peace negotiations with the Tigers, when it gets elected. MP Anura Bandaranaike said even though the party was insisting that the President take over the Interior Ministry which was responsible for the deterioration of law and order, she is not yet ready for a decisive action. In a cynical reference to the '78 constitution which provided the Executive President with vast powers, Bandaranaike said "every night I light a joss stick before my copy of the Constitution". "Jayawardene would have never though that a Bandaranaike will be authorised with these draconian powers," he said. Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapakse, Ratnasiri Wickremanayake, Lakshman Kadiragamar, W.D.J. Seneviratne and Pavitra Wanniarachchi presented the Resolutions to the convention. |
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