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Uditha Kumarasinghe reporting from Batticaloa

Agriculture, Livestock and Samurdhi Minister S. B. Dissanayake said devolution of power is the only hope which can bring a lasting solution to the ongoing ethnic problem.

The Minister made these observations at a farmer's meeting held at Arshad Dewanayagham Hall, Batticaloa on Saturday (September 27). The LTTE leaders for Batticaloa and Ampara districts also participated in the ceremony. He said "If the Sinhala community is not willing to devolve power, it is very difficult to stop the division of the country."

"During our history, each nationality had compelled to think and take decisions separately. As a result, country was put into a war by turning the people to hate each other. All the politicians ruled the country are responsible for creating this situation."

He said, "We all should have strength to create a motherland which Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim nationalities can live together as a one Sri Lankan nation."

During the past two decades of war, nothing has been gained other than losing thousands of lives and properties.

Dissanayake observed that all former governments maintained devolution of power would not be acceptable in Sri Lanka.

But worldwide examples have clearly shown that every country opposed to this concept ended in division.

India and Pakistan are classic examples of this.

The Minister said even the 13th amendment has decentralised the powers relating to police, justice and lands. "Therefore two major political parties cannot act like those who are not aware about this fact. Even President Kumaratunga proposed to give an interim administration to the LTTE for 10 years."

At present both the Government and the LTTE has understood that the wish of the entire nation is to achieve a permanent peace to the country, he said.

The war was started as a result of the negative impact focused on the devolution of power. As a result nationalities were categorised into several groups. However its results affected all the citizens of the country by placing them into severe hardships, the minister said.

"Now the time has come to end this ongoing problem. The Government as well as the LTTE should be honest and dedicated to settle this problem. The entire citizens should also join hands to form a united Sri Lanka.

"The country should move forward to achieve this goal. This is a dream which will come true in the near future. Then the LTTE can also live freely by laying down their weapons," he said. At present the LTTE has made a firm resolve with the intention of bringing a peaceful settlement to the ethnic problem. Therefore everyone should extend their fullest cooperation to bring permanent peace to the country, he said.

The northern people had a lot of confidence on the former PA Government. They thought that the PA will settle this problem. But during the PA regime war was turned into a racket by completely shattering the hopes of the people, he said.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe clearly studied the mistakes made by the former political leaders in their attempts to settle the ethnic issue. As a result the Premier could bring the LTTE to the negotiating table with the intention of ending this over two decades old ethnic problem.

The minister said when the UNF Government took over the country, economy had been completely collapsed. At present, the Government has been able to put the country into the path of development.

The entire world community has placed confidence on the key initiatives taken by the Prime Minister to end the North-East ethnic conflict and also the plans formulated by the Government to develop the country.

In this situation, many countries have pledged to grant money towards the proposed Government's development activities. However this money will be granted following the strategies formulated by the Government to settle the ethnic issue, the Minister said.

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