Colombo, 03 December, (Asiantribune.com): Sri Lanka Government is of the candid view the last Heroes Day speech made by the Leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam Velupillai Prabakaran was one of the most encouraging one.
Minister D.E.W Gunasekera said going through the various speeches made by LTTE leader Prabakaran at each Heroes Day, the Government considers Prabakaran’s latest speech to be a positive one.
"Unlike the international media Prabakaran has identified President Rajapakse as a practical man," he added.
Minister Gunasekera hastened to add that Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapakse has proved that international media speculations, that war would be imminent if Rajapakse was elected the President are wrong. He said, "There is nothing to panic since there is no danger of an imminent war."
Minister Gunasekara clarified that that President Rajapakse has given indications of his willingness to have direct talks with the LTTE, but has not given out an official invitation to the LTTE.
Addressing the weekly Cabinet press briefing along with Cabinet Spokesman Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Constitutional Affairs Minister D.E.W. Gunasekera stressed that President's new approach to the peace process will not be "hawkish" as speculated by the international media.
According to the press briefing, President Mahinda Rajapakse will start consultations with political parties represented in Parliament next week, as the initial step to reach a consensus among Southern political parties in his bid to resolve the country's ethnic problem prior to initiating direct talks with the LTTE.
Minister Gunasekera said in the press briefing that President Rajapakse may start bilateral talks with each political party first and then move towards multi-party discussions in his endeavor to reach a consensus among political parties.
The Minister also said that the President is yet to decide on the format of the discussion he intends to hold with the political parties.
"The President will strive to initiate a new approach to the peace process through these discussions," Minister Gunasekara added.
"This is a slow but steady process. We cannot solve this problem overnight since it has been dragging on for more than 50 years and with 20 years of war," Minister Gunasekara added.
When asked whether any decision has been taken to invite India to facilitate the peace process the Minister replied in the negative.
The Minister reminded, "India has always expressed its willingness to extend its support to Sri Lanka to solve the ethnic issue. India is our neighbor and we can rely on it on any matter," the Minister added.
- Asian Tribune -
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