Important step towards the future - Govt

COLOMBO: President Mahinda Rajapakse yesterday commended the Government peace delegation to the Celigny talks for ending the truce talks on a successful note and getting dates fixed for another round of discussions in mid-April.

The President expressed these sentiments when he met a group of UNP candidates and representatives in the Mahara electorate who have pledged support to the UPFA at the forthcoming local polls for a discussion at Temple Trees.

The President pointed out that the truce talks have allayed fears of war as pessimistically predicted by the Opposition parties during the last Presidential Election.

"The Government knows that the road to usher in peace to the country is a difficult one. The Government is fully determined to move forward on this difficult path by safeguarding the country's dignity.

The Government hopes that the Agreement to hold the next round of talks between the parties in Geneva on 19-21 April 2006, is an important constructive step towards the future," a Government Information Department news release said last night.

"For the first time in history the Government was able to reach a consensus among all Southern political parties obtaining their views and the Government was able to create a situation where an honourable peace would prevail among all."

It was possible for the Government to successfully fulfil the first stage of the programme of an undivided country, a national consensus and an honourable peace, promised to the people by President Mahinda Rajapakse in his Mahinda Chinthana, it said.

The Government expressed its gratitude to all those who contributed to this success.