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| Tuesday, 5 October 2004 |
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Politics | |
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| In spirit of openness and political reconciliation by Ranil Wijayapala Political parties, religious and civil society leaders came together in a spirit of openness and candid appraisal shedding mundane differences to contribute to the resolution of the country's most vexed problem that has bedeviled all administrations for over two decades. Yesterday's inaugural meeting of the National Advisory Council for Peace and Reconciliation saw President Chandrika Banadaranaike Kumaratunga and her Government stating their commitment for an inclusive, transparent and an open process towards finding a final solution to the national problem. The mood seemed to be one of yearning and expectations among all these groups representing different shades of opinions and philosophies to discuss a speedy resolution of the problem that has claimed thousands of lives and sapped the country of its vital economic resources which otherwise could have been diverted for development and an improved quality of life for its citizens. Over 10 political parties, religious leaders and representative from NGOs attended the inaugural meeting convened under the auspices of President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga. The Forum gave all politicians irrespective of their ethnic and religious affiliations space to contribute their inputs towards resolution of the national question expressing their requirements and limitations on the path to achieve this objective. Among the political parties attended were the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, Ceylon Workers Congress, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, National Unity Alliance, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, Mahajana Eksath Peramuna, Eelam People's Democratic Party, National Muslim Congress (Athaullah), Communist Party and the Lanka Sama Samaja Party. The presence of the religious leader including the Maha Nayake thera's of the Asgiriya and Malwatte Chapters and the Amarapura Sect and others representing the Hindu, Muslim and Christian faiths made the event vibrant and effective. The United National Party and the Tamil National Alliance were the major absentees at the confab drawing criticism among the ranks of the participants. Representatives from NGO's and Civil Society Organisations were there at the inaugural meeting. |
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