Government for negotiated political settlement - Prime Minister

Chaminda Perera

COLOMBO: The Government is dedicated to find a political settlement to the ethnic issue through a conference representing all parties in the Parliament, said Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake yesterday.

The Prime Minister was speaking at a meeting with visiting acting Prime Minister of Myanmar Lt. Gen. Thein Sein at the Prime Minister's Office.

The Government has no intention to solve this issue militarily nor a settlement through a third party foreign involvement, the Prime Minister said.

The terrorism is entirely dependent of arms and drug smuggling which should be eliminated in the name of humanity, he said.

Myanmar has helped tremendously to protect Buddhism during turbulent periods in Sri Lanka. The relations between the two countries fostered by Buddhism has remained unchanged after centuries.

The Myanmar's acting Prime Minister said Myanmar is presently engaged in eradicating and annihilating certain elements who saw the genesis of terrorism in the Asian region through arms smuggling.

Myanmar's acting prime Minister reaffirmed their unwavering support to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka which is nurtured by high traditions of Buddhism.

Sri Lanka signed three agreements with Myanmar to strengthen bilateral relations in the field of education, defence and culture on the occasion. The two countries will organise youth exchange and educational programmes and

introduce scholarship schemes under these agreements. Training programmes will also be arranged for the security personnel under the defence co-operation agreement.

The visiting delegation comprised Myanmar Foreign Minister U Nyan Win, Director General Political Affairs Phee Than Oo, Agriculture and Irrigation Minister Major General Htay Oo, Director General U. Ohn Than, Commerce Minister Brig. Gen Tin Naing Thein, Deputy Director General U Myo Oo, Transport Minister Major General Thein Swe, Managing Director Maung Nyine, Religious Affairs Minister Brigadier General Thura Myint Maung and Director General Myo Myint, Timber Enterprise and Forestry Minister Brig Gen Then Aung and Managing Director U Win Tun. Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama, Agriculture Development and Agrarian Services Minister Maithreepala Sirisena, Irrigation and Water Management Minister Chamal Rajapaksa, Transport Minister Dallas Alahapperuma, Trade and Marketing Development Minister Bandula Gunawardena, Environment and Natural Resources Minister Champika Ranawaka, Religious Affairs Minister Pandu Bandaranayake, Cultural Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena also participated.

Defence Ministry Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa was also present on the occasion.