Ranil declines to attend talks on joint mechanism

UNP Chairman Malik Samarawickrama has rejected an invitation extended by President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga to Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe to participate in talks on the joint mechanism.

We reproduce the letter sent by the President's Office to Wickremesinghe and the reply sent by Malik Samarawickrama on behalf of Wickremesinghe.

The letter from the President's Office: Developing a common program for the Implementation of humanitarian efforts for tsunami affected area

A discussion regarding the above, chaired by Her Excellency the President, will be held on 9th May 2005 at 11.00 a.m. at President's House, Colombo 01.

I am instructed by Her Excellency to cordially invite you/your party to participate at this discussion.

The letter from the UNP:

Developing a common programme for the implementation of humanitarian efforts for tsunami affected area

I am in receipt of your letter to Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe, Leader of the Opposition dated 29th April 2005 inviting him to participate at a discussion to be chaired by H.E the President on 09th May 2005 at 11.00 am.

A common programme for the Implementation of the humanitarian effort for the tsunami affected areas has been already set out by Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe in the document entitled "Making Rehabilitation Programs People Centred" addressed to H.E the President on 25th January 2005.

H.E the President has also been briefed by Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe on this matter on the 28th of January 2005. There is nothing to be added to this proposal.

The joint Mechanism currently under discussion is a part of the peace process.

When the Government approves the Joint Mechanism, the United National Party will make known its position on the matter. In view of this, there is no need to have a discussion on a common programme for implementation of humanitarian aid at this moment.

In regard to all action taken in terms of the peace process, the United National Party stands by the position it adopted at the Oslo and Tokyo meetings where any final solution must be based on a federal structure within a democratic, united Sri Lanka.

The solution has to be acceptable to all communities.