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| Saturday, 16 October 2004 |
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Peace talks the only way - CPA delegation by Nadira Gunatilleke Peace talks would be the only way to solve the ethnic conflict, the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association delegation visiting Sri Lanka told the media yesterday. "It is very easy to say `no'. Sitting together around a table and having a discussion is very difficult. But all parties connected to the conflict should be patient. They should sit around a table and talk in order to achieve a successful solution. Apart from talks there is only one option and we have already experienced it," said Graham Allen, MP (Labour Party), the Leader of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association UK Branch delegation. He said former British Prime Minister John Major commenced peace talks to solve the Northern Ireland conflict. Then Prime Minister Tony Blair took it forward. "All the communities in the UK benefit from peace in Northern Ireland and I think that some of the answers may apply to Sri Lanka." Allen was addressing the media at Blue Elephant, Colombo Hilton, yesterday. "We saw how difficult the peace process in Sri Lanka is. They expressed their Parliamentary views and not their political views. The prize of peace is so great. Therefore all parties should sit around the table and talk. We wish you all the best in peace process," he added. "We received a wonderful welcome. The hospitality of Sri Lankans is beyond words. We were given access to all important persons and places. We learned a lot. We take home fond memories of Sri Lanka with us", he said. During their stay in Sri Lanka the delegation visited the Parliament complex, Kelaniya temple, Dambulla rock temple, the Sigiriya craft village and Anuradhapura archaeological sites. The delegation met President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse and several Cabinet ministers. The other members of the delegation were Eric Forth, MP (Conservative party) and Mrs.Carroll Forth, Austin Mitchell, MP (Labour party) and Mrs.Linda Machell, MP Labour party), Ms.Linda Perham, MP (Labour party) and David Watts, MP (Labour party). |
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