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| Tuesday, 12 October 2004 |
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by L.B.Wijayasiri in Kandy The Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatte Chapter, the Most Ven. Thibbotuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Thera yesterday advised the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) to participate in the National Advisory Council for Peace and Reconciliation Council (NACPR) together with the UNP. The Most Ven Thera told a seven member team of TNA Parliamentarians that it was advisable for them to participate and also get the participation of the UNP in the NACPR appointed by President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga to find a workable solution to the North-East conflict. TNA Parliamentarians R. Sampanthan, Suresh Premachandran, S. Kanagasabe, Sathasivam Kanakaratnam, V. Kanagasabe Pathmanathan, Sivanathan Kisho and M.K. Sivajilingam called on the Most Ven. Mahanayake Thera at his official Aramaya at Malwatte in Kandy yesterday. They told the Mahanayake Thera that the main objective of their visit was to seek the Mahanayake Thera's assistance, cooperation and advice in persuading the government to expedite the peace talks with the LTTE since the undue delay in talks could be disastrous. Delegation leader Sampanthan said the LTTE was not for the commencement of the war nor for division of the country. "What they want is to find solutions to the problems faced by the people of the North and East under a rule similar to a Federal System within a United Sri Lanka. They did not want a war again. Various factors created after independence that were detrimental to the rights and freedom of Tamil people was responsible for the creation of the war," he said. "Not only by Sinhalese Governments, but on the side of the Tamils too, there had been various instances where incidents had occurred to harm or injure others' feelings. We had made many mistakes. The time had now come when both of us have to forget the unpleasant past and come to a settlement for the people's well being and the country's security," Sampanthan said. He said, they had the experience of a 20-year-old war in which a large number of lives on both sides had been lost. Seven to eight lakhs of innocent people in the North and East fell destitute. Those people had suffered enough and did not want another war. He invited the Most Ven. Mahanayake Thera to visit the North and East and see for himself the plight of the people and assess the situation by himself and make the government aware of the situation. Sampanthan urged the Mahanayake Thera to see that all the possible steps within his purview be taken to make the Government realise the need to expedite talks with the LTTE. "The TNA delegation paid tributes to the Most Ven. Mahanayake Thera for having accepted them and agreed to listen to them disregarding protests by a handful of extreme elements. Everyone respect the Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatte Chapter, they said and urged him to convince the government. The Most Ven. Thibbotuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Mahanayake Thera said he was aware of the situation in the North and East and the plight of the people. He said a solution should be found. He also said killings of unarmed innocent members of political parties could not be condoned and do whatever possible to bring about a peaceful settlement. The Mahanayake Thera said the TNA too should take the initiative in bringing all others not participating in the NACPR including the UNP into the fold and get their participation since President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga was keen in bringing about a solution. Ven. Niyangoda Vijithasiri Thera, Secretary, Malwatte Chapter and Ven. Walgowwagoda Wimalabuddi Nayake Thera also spoke. While the TNA members were having discussions with the Mahanayake Thera, 27 people including four members of the Maha Sangha and four women participated in a protest campaign carrying placards and shouting slogans on the road opposite the official Aramaya to protest against the TNA being entertained. |
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