'National commitment to ensure long term peace, govt's aim'

Disna MUDALIGE

The government's priority is to pursue a national commitment to ensure long term peace in the country by resolving national issues through the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC), Mass Media and Information Minister and Cabinet Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said. He was responding to a question from a journalist at the weekly Cabinet press briefing at the ministry yesterday.

The minister said the government at its best, attempts to bring representatives of all parties to the PSC roundtable.

Rambukwella said the agenda of the PSC could be formed when the negotiations start and early demarcations will not be prudent for it.

He said the government would like to start negotiations with other political parties as the initial step.

Asked about the NFF's recent statement on the TNA on its reference to Eelam, the minister said the government does not mar the freedom of any political party or individual to seek legal action on any incident.

Rambukwella said it is not legally and ethically right to object to judicial freedom of the constituent parties of the government.

He recalled how court gave a favourable decision to the JHU on the matter of joining the North and East provinces some time back.

Explaining the government's stance on the TNA reference to Eelam, the minister said the government will take a decision in this regard in the near future.