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| Monday, 12 January 2004 |
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Politics | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
| Broad alliance for peace and democracy, a must - Prof. Peiris The establishment of a broad alliance for peace and democracy, emanating from the masses and consisting of members of civil society, priests, professionals, teachers, trade unionists, youth and others to push the peace process forward has become a must under the prevailing conditions in the country today. Such a movement would force politicians not act irresponsibly and for self-gain, said Prof. G. L. Peiris, Minister of Enterprise Development, Industrial Policy, Investment Promotion and Constitutional Affairs at Avissawella on Saturday (10). He was speaking at a ceremony held to inaugurate the 7th program of the 'English for Youngsters' Project of the Prof. G. L. Peiris Foundation. Under this project, the foundation in collaboration with the Official Languages Department conducts a free six month English Language Course for school leavers and youth at 15 centres in the Colombo district. Prof. Peiris said that it was a critical moment of the Sri Lankans and the nation. The right to govern the country was democratically handed over to Ranil Wickremesinghe and the UNF by the people at the elections held in 2001. And that is as responsibility that Ranil Wickremesinghe should hold as long as he enjoys a majority in Parliament. He with 27 years of practical experience behind him, was able to secure a ceasefire agreement within 60 days of assuming office and to establish an unbroken peace for a period of two years. Prof. Peiris pointed out that under the present circumstances the Prime Minister is unable to embark on the peace process as he cannot enforce several articles in the Ceasefire Agreement with regard to the Armed Forces, police and prisons etc. The LTTE who had agreed for the first time to seek devolution of power within one country had offered their proposals and the Government, though not agreeable to many of them, was willing to negotiate. The LTTE too had indicated their willingness to do so and pointedly, said that they were prepared to be flexible. Prof. Peiris questioned whether anything positive was achieved through this action of the President. The Manirasakulam Camp is still there. Nothing has been done to remove the 44 LTTE camps the President imagined to be in existence. The law and order situation has certainly shown no improvement. But it is the people and the country that are suffering due to these opportunistic political machinations. Hence the necessity for a broad political platform to push the case for peace in the country. He said that the Prof. G. L. Peiris Foundation wanted to help the youth to brighten their future. Prof. Peiris thanked the organisers of the 'English for Youngsters' Project and those who helped it to become a reality. Jayantha Katagoda, MP, Colombo district said that young people like him were able to enter politics due to the recommendations made by the Commission on Youth Unrest in which Prof. G. L. Peiris played a very important role. Srinath Perera, PC made a presentation on the Peace Process and the present crisis. On this occasion several financial allocations from Prof. Peiris' decentralised Budget Entitlement were handed out for various projects in the Avissawella electorate. Prasanna Sujith Kumara, Public Relations Secretary to Minister G. L. Peiris and the Avissawella Coordinator for the Prof. G. L. Peiris Foundation made the welcome speech. Among the other speakers were Ven. Verahera Ariyawansa Thera, Deshabandu K. D. P. Arsekularatne, Mayor of Avissawella Urban Council, Mrs. Padma D. Jayaweera, Commissioner of Official Languages and J. Gunaratne, former Member, Western Provincial Council, Dushmantha Gunawardene, Member, Seethawakapura Urban Council proposed the vote of thanks. |
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