Solutions pertaining to NE:

Govt willing to meet political parties

Priyanka Kurugala

Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardana

The government is ready to discuss solutions pertaining to the country's Northern and Eastern Provinces with all political parties, said Deputy Economic Development Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardana. “The government will provide all infrastructure facilities to the North and the East. “The devolution of power is only the need of the political agents of the LTTE, but not of the people in the country or people in the Northern and Eastern Provinces.

“The people’s only need is to live in peace and harmony, he said. “To date, the 13th Amendment to the constitution, has been the main topic of society.

“The Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim people who had been affected by the 30-year terrorist activities in the North and East, only wish to live in peace, he said.

“Facilities, such as, irrigation, land, fertilizer and fisheries equipment are the most essential necessities for the people, he added.

He said that President Mahinda Rajapaksa has taken action to provide the people in the North and the East with all facilities and privileges on par with those who live in other parts of the country, the minister said.

“The most important factor is to convince those living in the North and the East that they too are citizens of the country, where everybody can live together in peace and harmony, the minister said.