Government understands need to establish :

Regional administrative structure to boost relief program

PRESIDENT Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga said she sought the Counsel of the Most Venerable Mahanayake Theras and People's representatives and made arrangements to create wide national dialogue on the proposed Tsunami Relief Counsel.

The Government understood the need to establish a regional level administrative structure with the participation of all political parties and organisations representing the areas affected by the tsunami in order to strengthen the relief program for the people and areas affected by the cataclysm, President Kumaratunga said in a statement.

The statement: "I took steps to keep the leadership of the SLFP, JVP and other constituent parties of the Government informed about this from last January itself.

The SLFP as well as all the constituent parties of the Government have approved this proposal. Parties with Muslim representation supporting the government too have agreed to the tsunami relief council proposal and discussions are now being held to seek a solution to one problem affecting them.

Certain private media have created a fear psychosis in the country about this relief board by making use of various statements issued by various parties and groups including the JVP about it. As a result various protest campaigns and incident of violence had erupted during the last few days and this is a tragic situation.

The Ven. Mahanayake Theras who paid attention to the unrest created by a few extremist elements gave me counsel and advice and emphasised the need to explain the true situation about the Tsunami Relief Council to the people in detail.

Acting according to the counsel and advice of the Ven. Mahanayake Theras and peoples representatives I have made arrangements to create a wide national dialogue about this matter to explain the true position and conduct a propaganda campaign on the Tsunami Relief Council to enlighten all sections in the country and clear any misconceptions.

As your President who valued democracy I have always followed the political tradition of exchanging views with the people through dialogue in a fully transparent manner.

Certain media institutions always acting against the Government have tried to instigate the people by giving wrong dates regarding the signing of the tsunami relief council agreement.

No such dates have been fixed so far. I constantly state that I will take a decision on this matter informing the Ven. Maha Sangha, people and people's representatives and taking their views and ides into account. I have decided to table the Tsunami Relief Council proposal in Parliament which is the supreme political institution in this country.

I kindly request the Ven. Maha Sangha, all political parties and their representatives and the people to positively respond to the decision to table the proposal in Parliament, respect the democratic mainstream by desisting from violence and acts of sabotage and assist in arriving at a decision democratically after discussions.

Action should be taken both in the South and the North and East to successfully distribute humanitarian aid and relief among people affected by the tsunami.

In the light of the special situation prevailing especially in the Northern and Eastern areas it is very important to seek the participation of all political parties representing these areas as well as the LTTE.

The tsunami relief council is only an administrative structure restricted for a period of one year solely for the purpose of rehabilitating the infrastructure facilities and buildings destroyed by the tsunami within a 2 km land area.

In this process the government will act jointly with representatives of Muslim and Sinhala people living in the relevant areas and the LTTE. State Institutions will perform this task after this relief board identifies the infrastructure facilities needing rehabilitation and submits to plans to the Government.

The tsunami relief board is not a political machinery. I wish to once again emphasise that it is only an administrative structure set up to rebuild areas in the North and East devastated by the tsunami catastrophe.

This is a great opportunity given to us by history to carry forward the peace process by confidence building between the parties. I request the contribution of the patriotic people of this country to enable me and my Government to perform this task successfully.

A time to face the challenge of truth will come in the history of any country. Let us not allow this valuable opportunity opened up to end the destructive ethnic war which has obstructed the country's forward march for the last 21 years slip away."