All-party meet including pro-LTTE political group for peace summoned
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
New Delhi, March 24, IRNA -- In an initiative of its first kind, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajpaksa has called for an all-party meeting including the pro-LTTE Tamil National Alliance (TNA) for a formal interaction on the political solution on the 26th of this month.
Since abrogation of the Norwegian brokered cease fire agreement in 2006, this is the first time that the government is involving any pro-LTTE political grouping for any kind of discussion, All India Radio (AIR) reported.
As the military offensive in the North is now in a decisive phase, there is a lot of international pressure on the Government to initiate a political process involving the ethnic Tamils for a long lasting peace in the area.
The All Party Representatives Conference (APRC) had earlier submitted an interim report and amongst other things has called for the implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution related to the devolution of power to the provinces.
The President has also announced the resumption of the train services to the war torn Northern Province in an effort to “unite the entire nation after 19 years”.
Since the abrogation of the Norwegian brokered cease fire agreement in 2006, this is the first time that the Sri Lankan government is involving any pro-LTTE political grouping for any kind of discussion.
As the military offensive in the North is now in a decisive phase, there is a lot of international pressure on the Government to initiate a political process involving the ethnic Tamils for a long lasting peace in the area.
The President would like to build on a consensus and take the views of differing parties before any final consideration of any proposal in this regard.
The All Party Representatives Conference (APRC) had earlier submitted an interim report and amongst other things has called for the implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution related to the devolution of power to the provinces.
The President has also announced the resumption of the train services to the war torn Northern Province in an effort to “unite the entire nation after 19 years”.
He said that this “would show our resolve for co-existence”.
He has called upon India, China, Pakistan, Japan and other countries that helped in the fight against terrorism to come forward and assist in reconstruction so that terrorism would not be able to raise its head again.
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