THE Sri Lanka Freedom Party yesterday passed 10 resolutions at the 15th party convention at the National Youth Service Council auditorium in Maharagama under President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga's patronage.

PM stresses need to start peace talks

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse emphasised the necessity to start peace negotiation between the Government and the LTTE soon to bring peace to the country by solving the North and East problem through a politically negotiated settlement.

The Prime Minister presenting the first resolution, emphasised that the political solution should ensure a governing system through devolution of power within a united country, defeating separatism and ensuring the rights of all ethnic groups and protecting their identity, while protecting democracy and supremacy of the law.

The resolution also pointed out the possibilities of adopting several types of interim solutions which are not harmful to the sovereignty and the national security of the state, in the process of reaching permanent solution to the problem.

New political structure

Information and Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera, presenting the second resolution to the convention proposed that the Sri Lanka Freedom Party should resolve to create a public opinion joining hands with other political parties emphasising the need to have new political structure in the country instead of the structure created by the 1978 Constitution taking into account that the present electoral system, does not properly reflect the peoples' consent and fair public representation in the Parliament.

The preferential vote system under the present electoral system, has posed a challenge to democracy instead of ensuring democracy in the country.

Need to take forward govt. program

Presenting the third resolution, Power and Energy Minister Susil Premjayatha proposed the need to take forward the program initiated by the Government to rebuild the livelihood of the tsunami affected people providing them with housing, health, education and other infrastructure facilities, while identifying and defeating reactionary forces trying to sabotage this program to reach narrow political gains.

Gratitude to President

Posts, Telecommunications and Udarata Development Minister D.M. Jayaratne moving the fourth resolution proposed that the gratitude of all Sri Lankans should be paid to President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga who is also the Chairman of the SLFP for her leadership and commitment towards facing the challenge of rebuilding the tsunami hit nation using her international fame and friendly relationship with the international community.

Party should be restructured, strengthened

Nutrition and Health Care Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva presenting the fifth resolution suggested that the party should be restructured and strengthened to suit the modern society and enabling to move its operations with new organisation and management system to win the appreciation of various professionals, women organisations and minorities in the country.

Gratitude to Forces, Police

Tourism, Industry and Investment Promotion Minister Anura Bandaranaike presenting the sixth resolution said the Party should resolve to offer its gratitude to the Armed Forces and the Police, Sri Lankans, the foreign countries, Non Government Organisations, and World leaders those who visited Sri Lanka, for their yeoman services extended to the tsunami affected people and friendship towards Sri Lankans, giving strength to the Government to face the challenge posed by the tsunami tragedy.

Restructure public administration system

Plantation Industries Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa on behalf of Public Security, Law and Order and Deputy Defence Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake presenting the seventh resolution proposed that a program should be immediately started to restructure the Public Administration system to maintain good governing system to fulfil the pledges given to the public by the United People's Freedom Alliance as they are, since it was very clear that the benefits of the program initiated by the UPFA to solve the problem is not transferred to the general public as expected.

Change election law

Presenting the ninth resolution to the convention, Samurdhi and Poverty Alleviation Minister Pavithra Vanniarachchi proposed that election laws of the country should be changed enabling to have more women representation in the Parliament, Provincial Councils and Local Authorities, since the women representation in those institutes were not satisfactory compared to the 52 per cent women population in the country. This will enable to strength democracy in the country.

Political academy with SLFP

Vocational and Technical Education Deputy Minister and Vice president of the SLFP Youth Organisation Duminda Dissanayake presenting the tenth resolution proposed to have a Political Academy within the Sri Lanka Freedom Party enabling the youth to obtain political knowledge to strengthen their democratic political career.