Extremism gave rise to conflict - Prof. Wiejsinha

Shirley Wijesinghe

Human Rights and Disaster Management Ministry Secretary Rajiva Wijesinha said the deprivation of civic rights of Prime Minister Mrs. Bandaranaike in 1980 is the beginning of extremism.

"It is over dramatic and imposed by the political elements who wanted to stay in power suppressing political rivals," Prof. Wijesinha said.

The present conflict originated due to the actions of extremists on either side, he said. He was speaking at the monthly forum organised by the Society for International Development(SID), recently.

Two years after the deprivation of her civic rights, a fresh election was held in 1982 to ensure the stability of the Government. No Government could steer development without being stable.

The Government elected in 1977 was given a fresh lease of life by a majority vote at the Referendum, Prof. Wijesinha added. The key factor of re-establishing peace in the country is the granting of democratic rights to the people of the North. Firstly, Local Government Elections and thereafter Provincial Council elections should be held. That is what the Government is going to do, he said.

"There is no peace possible in the country without practicing democratic strategies to give representatives of the people in the North. People of the North have been deprived of this right for two decades," Prof. Wijesinha said.