PM says Govt always for peace negotiations

Uditha Kumarasinghe, Irangika Range and Sandasen Marasinghe

Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayaka told Parliament yesterday that the Government is always committed to conduct peace negotiations to restore peace.

He said the LTTE is not the one and only representative of the Tamil people. "Therefore, we are willing to go for discussions as a responsible Government with any organisation and party if they are very keen on solving the problems of Tamils. He said the LTTE still has an opportunity to join the peace negotiations."

The Premier said that the New Year dawned with hopes for a prosperous and peaceful country.

"Within a few hours after the new year dawned, UNP MP T. Maheshwaran was killed inside an Hindu Kovil in Kotahena. We condemn this assassination. An Army bus was targeted and exploded by the LTTE on January 2. Many innocent lives were lost.

It is a horrendous crime." The Prime Minister said Nation Building Minister D.M. Dassanayake was injured in the claymore attack in Wattala. He later died. It is very unfortunate. He said: "This blood thirsty LTTE's major objective was to create panic among the public. They want to create a barbaric culture. They attack even sacred places.

Developing the country is a very difficult task with terrorism. Therefore we are committed to eliminate terrorism."

"We have been able to achieve a number of military goals by defeating terrorism last year. The Armed Forces have been able to claim the lives of a number of top terrorists last year.

We have been able to find huge amount of weapons. The Security Forces have been able to find 1,350 bombs in Batticaloa. The Armed Forces have also taken over the terrorist camp in Vavuniya.

We have destroyed the sea-Tiger Camp in Mullathivu. The terrorists are now isolated and engaged in terrorist activity in Batticaloa, Mannar and Vavuniya. The LTTE kidnap and kill innocent civilians.

The civilians are threatened due to the barbaric attacks of the LTTE. It has reported that 60 Armed Forces and Police Personnel have died during last month while 578 have been injured 47 civilians have been killed and 36 injured. It is our duty to support the Security Forces to eliminate terrorism.

We should encourage our Armed Forces. We are committed to eliminate terrorism which has been plagued the country for past few decades. To maintain law, peace and order in the country we expect your support to extend the Emergency Regulations for another one month.

"The elimination of terrorism from the country is very close. We are in the process of eradicating terrorism. The LTTE tries to mislead the whole world now.

They have taken a number of benefits by taking cover under the CFA. "That is why the Government decided to abrogate the CFA. They have violated the CFA thousands of times. Why should we maintain such a document ? We have been able to silence a number of LTTE leaders.

Our Armed Forces have been strengthened to eradicate terrorism. The Air Force attacked successfully after identifying correct targets.

It has destroyed a number of LTTE bunkers. We take correct information from our intelligence services."