Building a united Lanka my aim - Ranil

by E. Weerapperuma

President hopeful Ranil Wickremesinghe, UNP leader while apologising for his delay in attending the meeting organized by the Committee of the Muslim Affairs of the United National Party said that the road net work in the city of Colombo needs priority as that was one of the areas which needs to be developed.

Mr. Wickremesinghe reiterated his commitment to the peace process and said that he wished to deal with the SLFP in this respect as the resolute attempt of the two major political parties in the country was the only way to find a lasting solution to the ethnic issue and for peaceful and harmonious living among all communities in Sri Lanka.

"Building a united Sri Lanka is my aim. I am proud to be a Sri Lankan and want to maintain our Sri Lankan identity.

If we want to maintain our identity as true Sri Lankans, we need to resolve the North East problem, a complicated issue with tolerance and understanding.

As Prime Minister I took the first step signing the Ceasefire Agreement that ended gun fire, and saved precious human life.

We cannot run away from our present duty and I seek your support in electing me to take the ethnic issue to its final solution where everyone would be satisfied and benefit, he said.

"The Opposition Leader lamented that Sri Lanka was divided on ethnic, religious and caste basis and brought to the attention of the audience that the D.S. Senanayake as leader of the UNP, was able to bring all communities under one banner and he wished to take forward his mantle and one more make Sri Lanka a country where all communities could live in peace and harmony.

"I am committed to take the CFA forward so that our country's sovereignty and territorial integrity is safe guarded. The LTTE agreed to give up its struggle for a separate state and to find a way out to share power. I don't mind, or hesitate to devolve power so that they can improve that part of the country because it is part and parcel of United Sri Lanka.

The International Community is ready to help us to develop our country provided we make efforts to find a lasting and honourable solution to the ethnic issue." "As long as our sovereignty and territorial integrity is not jeopardised I don't mind giving more powers to the North and East," he added.

Both the UNP and SLFP have agreed that we need to find a solution through dialogue and a political solution is a must. We also recognize the Muslims as a separate entity and they should be given due recognition in a United Sri Lanka. I will get the views of the SLFP, the Muslims and also seek the ratification of our solution from the people at a Referendum.

The UNP as a political party is committed to safeguard the rights of the Muslims of this country. Making reference to tsunami and people who suffered, Wickremesinghe said that it was the Muslim Community that suffered the most and they had lost one percent of their community. "I will give only 365 days to the committee I wish to appoint to provide redress and rebuild houses in respect of those who lost their houses. Under my leadership means will be given to re-start those who lost their livelihood," he said.

Presidential candidate Wickremesinghe also answered question posed by the audience and assured the establishment of a University and rebuilding of a Mosques affected by the tsunami.

Members of Parliament Kabir Hassim, M.H. Mohammed, Abdul Cader and former UNP MP A.H.M. Aswar also were present.