Political solution to national issue soon

President tells Bishops:

COLOMBO: President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday assured the Bishops of Jaffna, Mannar and Anuradhapura that a political solution to the national issue acceptable to all as hoped by the Bishops will be found after the next All Party Conference (APC).

The President said the Government was committed to this task and will make all endeavours to achieve this after the next APC.

President Rajapaksa made these observations when Bishops of Jaffna, Mannar and Anuradhapura called on him at Temple Trees yesterday.

The Bishops said they will extend their fullest support to a political solution to the national problem that is acceptable to all parties without a division of the country, a media release from the President's Office said.

The three Bishops met the President to discuss the conditions of public life in the North and the East.

The Bishops appreciating steps taken by the Government to provide relief to the people of the North and the East told the President that following adequate supplies of food and other essentials being sent to these areas, prices of essentials have come down. They on behalf of the people of the North and the East thanked the President.

They also discussed with the President the living conditions of the people at length. The Bishops also expressed their satisfaction the services of the three Armed Forces and the Police to the people in the North and East and added that they hoped to ease any further shortcomings following the discussion with the President.

They requested the President to ensure maximum security to the people of the North and the East when security operations are carried out in these areas.

President Rajapaksa told the Bishops that he was at all times concerned with this aspect and that he had instructed Security Forces to ensure the civilians' safety.

He said a political solution acceptable to all as hoped by the Bishops will be found soon after the next APC and the Government was completely dedicated to achieve this objective.

President Rajapaksa also pointed out to the Bishops that it was pernicious to the interests of the country to make unauthentic public statements by various quarters under the present conditions and emphasised the need to be cautious and responsible to make truthful statements in a situation like this.

Rev. Thomas Saundranayagam, Bishop of Jaffna, Rev. Rayappu Joseph, Bishop of Mannar, Rev. Norbet Andradi, Bishop of Anuradhapura, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Minister of Culture and National Heritage, President's Secretary Lalith Weeratunga and General M.B. Fernando, Presidential Advisor on Defence Affairs participated in the discussions.