We must approach N/E issue intelligently, tactfully - Opposition Leader

INDIA: Mahathma Gandhi who pioneered the Indian struggle for Independence was armed only with his walking stick when the modern State of India was established. Emperor Asoka unified the whole of Asia as one land of righteousness and established an Asian identity without wielding a single weapon.

The LTTE cannot defeat our Armed Forces in totality. We have to understand this reality and approach the North East conflict intelligently and tactfully, said UNP and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe.

The Opposition Leader made this pronouncement in answer to a question raised at the end of the special lecture he delivered at the Indian Management Institute in the city of Indor, India, last Friday.

Ranil Wickremesinghe quoting from the book "Art of War" by War Expert Sun Shuie pointed out that an excellent victory is the victory achieved without a fight and added that such a victory is possible only through the combination of intelligence, farsightedness and patience.

The Opposition Leader's lecture on the theme "Re-assembly of scattered pieces of peace" was attended by a large number of students and lecturers of the Academic Institute. At the end of Wickremesinghe's speech the participants were given an opportunity to ask questions from him.

Wickremesinghe who visited the textile factory of the International Institute of Textile Company Limited also attended a Prize Giving of the Sathya Sri Sai Vidya Vihar in Indor and presented colours to students who excelled in thier respective fields.