Prelate praises President's aim for lasting peace

by Jayasinghe Premaratna, Asela Kuruluwansa and Indika Polkotuwa

President Mahinda Rajapakse's enthusiasm to solve the ethnic problem and usher lasting peace has caused happiness among all. The President's efforts to fulfil his pledge of conducting direct talks with LTTE leader Prabhakaran to usher peace should be appreciated by all, said most Ven. Tibbotuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatte Chapter in an exclusive interview with the Daily News in Kandy yesterday.

The prelate said it did not matter whether peace talks were held in an Asian or European country, but what matters most is that both the Government and the LTTE should show some flexibility and come to the negotiating table without being rigid in their stands.

The most Ven. Sumangala Mahanayake Thera said he had been espousing the need for the two main political parties - the SLFP and the UNP - to work together in solving national problems confronting the country. The Maha Sangha and the people are happy that this has become a reality at long last.

The Mahanayaka Thera said he hoped that the SLFP and the UNP would not part ways without arriving at a consensus regarding a solution to the North and East problem.

The Mahanayake said he appreciated the agreement reached between the Government and the UNP for starting talks with the LTTE.

He said the agreement between President Rajapakse and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe to consider the North and East problem as a national problem and seek a political solution for it is a good omen for the country's future.