Liberal Party to decide stance soon

THE Liberal Party in a release said yesterday it will soon decide its stance on the Presidential Election.

The Party said it supports a policy of a federal solution to the national question while emphasising the need to combat all types of terrorism. The Party taking into consideration the geo-political situation in the region is not supporting a solution based on a confederation (asymmetric devolution).

Though the Party does not see any major difference between the two major parties, it is closely looking what policies the major parties would declare in this regard.

The Liberal Party is also watching whether the major parties including the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna have any coherent policy regarding the problem of eradication of poverty.

The Party is of the view that a policy based on 'social market economy' would make inroads to uplift the conditions of the poorest of the poor. The party also warned that the LTTE could drastically change the result of the Presidential Election through its assassination tactics.

The Liberal Party reminded that in 1994 the LTTE assassinated Gamini Dissanayake of the UNP, giving an advantage in favour of President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga in the election and in 1999 though failed attempted to kill President Kumaratunga to give an advantage in favour of Ranil Wickremesinghe of the UNP.

Though the majority of the Party's National Executive Committee is of the opinion that the party should field a candidate for the Presidential Election, the committee will arrive at a final decision on September 10 taking into consideration the political developments and party aligning towards the major contender.

Party President Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha, contested the Presidential Election in 1999, to introduce the party to the public and obtained sufficient votes.