More Political Parties endorse Joint Mechanism

Political parties across the divide have hailed the joint statement issued in New Delhi by Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga wherein India has lent its unqualified support for the proposed Joint Mechanism, to facilitate Tsunami reconstruction in Sri Lanka. PLOTE leader D. Sidharthan and Wanni District TNA Parliamentarian Selvam Addaikkalanathan said the Joint Mechanism reflected the sentiments of the people of the North and East.

Theirs are the latest voices to add to the growing number of political parties that have come out in support of the proposed Joint Mechanism to handle post tsunami relief and reconstruction in the North-East with the added conviction that this could also pave the way for a final resolution of the national problem.

The Communist Party of Sri Lanka has pledged its optimum co-operation for post -tsunami rehabilitation activities in the North and East, one of its arguments being that a majority of the tsunami victims belonged to the two minority communities.

It also contends that although the Military and Administrative authority rests with the Government in areas under its control, the political power often remains either with the LTTE or Muslim or Tamil parties.

The CWC while hailing the pledges made by international donors at the Sri Lanka Development Forum has underlined the need to have a joint mechanism in place to best utilise the assistance. It also blamed the UNP, its one time political ally, for not taking a positive stance towards the Joint Mechanism to strengthen the peace process. The party has called upon all political forces to unite to rebuild the nation.

The EPDP issuing a statement notes that only a Joint Mechanism could overcome various obstacles placed before the Government by the LTTE.

Observing that the population affected by the tsunami was desperately in need of relief, the party expresses the view that a Joint Mechanism should not only be confined to relief and reconstruction but should be such that all the affected people would be served by it.

"We believe that such a mechanism has to be broad-based, and ensure ethnic and political pluralism and also respect democratic traditions and human rights".

The Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP) notes that the Mechanism that the LTTE has accepted is purely administrative in character while the President had spelt out its functions.

The LSSP is of the considered view that this mechanism can prove to be a significant step in taking the peace process forward, without for the present effecting any crucial changes in the status quo.

Meanwhile the Sri Lanka Freedom Party has urged President Kumaratunga to expedite the establishment of the proposed joint mechanism to speed by relief and reconstruction in the tsunami hit North-East.

The SLFP Executive Committee meeting chaired by the President which met on May 19 also passed the following resolutions, an SLFP release said yesterday.

The Ex-Co agreed that the term joint mechanism used for the proposed relief program for the North-East was unsuitable and proposed that the term Tsunami Relief Board be used instead.

The Ex-Co urged the President to set up the Tsunami Relief Board swiftly to restore normality to the lives of tsunami-hit people of the North and East.