Intl community should persuade LTTE to come for negotiations -
Leader of the House
Ranil Wijayapala and Rajmi Manatunga
KOTTE: International community should make use of the present
situation to persuade the LTTE to come to the negotiating table to
settle issues through discussion as Government always kept its doors
open for negotiations, Leader of the House Minister Nimal Siripala de
Silva said yesterday.
"We should not make use of this situation to deepen the gaps between
the two parties but should make use of the situation to bridge the gaps
between the two parties", the Minister asserted.
Making his reply to the two hour adjournment debate on the situation
in the East the Minister said Government never believes that war as a
means to solve the North East issue.
"We only believe in negotiations to settle the North East problem. We
never believe war as a means to resolve the issue", the Minister added.
The Minister pointed out that the LTTE decision to close the sluice
gate of the Mavilaru anicut was the root cause of the problem and the
Government was compelled to take military action to restore the water
supply for more than 15,000 families.
"President Rajapaksa had to take this decision after all efforts to
settle this issue through discussions ended in failure", the Minister
added.
The Minister said the LTTE made use of the Mavilaru issue as a part
of their keenly crafted ploy to drag the Government to a war situation.
He said the Government will never comply to terrorist demands and
will take all necessary steps to curb terror the acts of any group and
safeguard the rights of all communities.
"We as the Government is duty bound to safeguard the rights of all
communities", he added. The Minister also said that the Government will
do its utmost to bring back the people to their native places.
He urged the main Opposition to act with responsibility extending
their support to the Government in a constructive manner. |