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| Monday, 1 March 2004 |
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| PM calls for mandate to lead peace process by Ariyaratne Ganegoda and Kurunegala District Special Sunil S. Pellandeniya Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Saturday called for a mandate to lead the peace process to a successful end and improve the country's economy. "Only the UNF has a workable plan for a negotiated settlement," he said, while expressing fears that a renewed war is imminent in case of the Freedom Alliance victory given its "contradictory views" on the peace process. "Peace efforts between 1994-2000 ended in disarray, every such effort ended with a renewed war. If things go like this the resumption of war is imminent," the Prime Minister told the United National Front's rally at Warakapola. He said it was only when the Government put the economy back on the right track, that President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga "precipitated an unnecessary crisis" by taking over the three Ministries. "She charged that the LTTE had strengthened its cadres during the truce agreement by three fold. She accused us of allowing for the setting up of the Manirasakulam LTTE camp. She said she is taking over the Defence Ministry to take back the Manirasakulam camp." He said referring to the President's take over. The Prime Minister said the President dissolved Parliament while cohabitation talks between the President and himself were in progress. "The country was not asking for an election, when she dissolved Parliament", he said. The Premier said the challenge before the country was two fold. "Peace is the first and foremost, then the economic growth enabling more employment opportunities". He said his administration secured a ceasefire for the past two years. "People have to decide whether they transform the ceasefire into a permanent peace through a negotiated settlement or reject the truce and return to war," he said. He said the Gross National Income which stood at the US $ 16 billion in 2000 rocketed to $ 18 billion in 2003. "The current economic policies will secure an accelerated economic growth," he said adding: "the elections on April 2 will decide the destiny of the nation". Referring to the Freedom Alliance's pledge to negotiate with the LTTE, the Prime Minister said the FA had hitherto refrained from revealing which conditions it will talk on to the LTTE. Stating that the current peace negotiations are shaped by certain conditions agreed by both parties and endorsed by the international community, the Prime Minister warned that giving away these conditions, "as advocated by certain FA leaders, will cause further chaos". "You can't alter these conditions unilaterally. The LTTE needs to agree with them and the international community should endorse them." Pointing to the JVP's rejection of Federalism, he challenged the Freedom Alliance to reveal their solution to the ethnic problem. He warned that the contradictory views in the Freedom Alliance will cause the peace process to collapse leading the country to an inevitable war. |
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