President Kumaratunga addressing 15th SLFP Convention says:

Chances of peace far better today than in the past

IT was the Sri Lanka Freedom Party that rescued the country on every occasion the country fell into an abyss, stated President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga addressing the 15th National Convention of the SLFP at the Youth Services Centre, Maharagama yesterday.

Of the history of 53 years of existence, for 45 years the party leadership was held by women. This is a world record in the history of a political party in Sri Lanka, she said.

President Kumaratunga said the United People's Freedom Alliance pioneered by the SLFP, put the country on the correct track by acting in a people friendly manner throughout its history and maintained a stable government in spite of random setbacks.

"Nobody can split the Alliance. In the face of several obstacles following the tsunami, we have achieved a better economic development than the UNP era. Our development policy is one giving prominence to an indigenous economy. Its pioneers are Sri Lankans", she said.

The President said modernisation of the irrigational network to uplift agriculture and development of small and medium scale industries occupy the pride of place under this economic system.

"We have encouraged local entrepreneurs by providing them various concessions through the Board of Investment. Ninety per cent of the annual investment each year belonged to the local investors. We are providing advanced educational facilities to all parts of the island," she said.

President Kumaratunga said she was thankful to all sections of the party for co-operating with the Government's efforts to usher a political solution for lasting peace in the country.

"The People's Alliance completed a large measure of work for seven years to achieve peace. Our chances of achieving peace is far better today than in the past. War can stall the development process for many years, "she said.

President Kumaratunga said the People's Alliance without much publicity took a series of steps through the North East Provincial Council to develop the province during six years.

"In spite of obstacles by the LTTE, we managed to provide a large measure of facilities such as hospitals, highways and schools in the North and East", she said.

The United People's Freedom Alliance is a combination of nine component parties.

When such an Alliance is formed there is a conservative code of conduct that has to be followed.

Other than one of the constituent parties all other parties work in harmony. We have to put that party on the correct track. Unless we do that, it will be difficult to work collectively, she said.