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'Constitutional solution only after Govt - LTTE dialogue in place' - GL

Mr. Speaker, as we approach the end of this debate on the policy statement made by the Hon. Prime Minister, there is a strong and positive factor which I note with deep satisfaction.

It is this, Mr. Speaker. With regard to the resolution of the ethnic conflict in this country, it is quite evident that there is considerable common ground between the two major parties. There is a whole reservoir of shared values and perceptions.

The Hon. Lakshman Kadirgamar suggested that it would not be difficult to make these difficult decisions on the basis of a consensus that is arrived at between the two major political parties representing the Sri Lankan electorate. That is why I say, Mr. Speaker that there is room for profound satisfaction.

At the same time, Mr. Speaker the reality today, as I address the House this afternoon, is that the PA benches are entirely empty. All members of the People's Alliance have walked out of this House.

There was a very emotional speech that was made by the Hon. Nimal Siripala Silva shortly before the walkout. The reason for the walkout had to do with allegations relating to post-election violence. This epitomises the rancour and the acrimony that is characteristic of the Sri Lankan political culture.

The Hon. Sivasithamparam, whose voice was heard in this assembly after many years, pointed out the reality that it is this spirit of antagonism that has militated against the emergence of a viable political solution to this conflict during the last 35 years.

The Hon Sivasithamparam rightly pointed out that, whenever a viable solution was proposed by the party in office, it was invariably torpedoed by the party in Opposition. This has been a never ending spiral. I am not blaming one side.

Mr. Speaker, why do I say that there is common ground that was plainly discoverable in the words that were uttered in this august assembly by the Hon. Lakshman Kadirgamar? In the first place, there is a common foundation with regard to the action that has been taken by the Government of the Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe during the last six weeks.

When the Hon. Lakshman Kadirgamar spoke of a learning process, I think what he meant was that we have to look back on the past and we have to improve and refine our systems and procedures as we go along, benefiting from the snares and the pitfalls which endangered the process in the past. Our Government, Mr. Speaker, is very much concerned about proper sequence, first things first.

We are convinced that the need of the hour is confidence building.

I have already referred to the movement of goods into the Wanni area. We are also greatly simplifying the pass system. There was no need really for 17 different kinds of passes under conditions that exist today. We have been able to reduce it to a much smaller number.

The Government is giving serious consideration to the extent to which restriction on fishing can be relaxed in the North and the East. Thought is also being given to the question of opening roads. Mr. Speaker,the army is also considering the vacation of certain buildings, mainly Kovils, hospitals and schools, the occupation of which is no longer necessary.

Mr. Speaker, we also believe that constitutional arrangements should be contemplated only after substantial agreement has been reached with the LTTE. This was perhaps one of the mistakes of the past.

There is hardly any merit in completing a constitutional document, in conceiving of elaborate constitutional structure and mechanisms, preparing a document in its final form, before substantive negotiations have started with the LTTE and before these negotiations have reached a certain stage.

We believe that these constitutional arrangements will be capable of implementation on the ground only if there is some degree of consensus between the Government and the LTTE. It is, therefore, not our intention to embark upon an ambitious exercise in constitution building before we have actually engaged the LTTE in a constructive negotiating process.

Another lesson that we can learn from the past, Mr. Speaker, is the need for third party facilitation. When this cessation of hostilities broke down on 19th April, 1995, we did not have the advantage of facilitation by a competent and well-meaning third party. If we had at our disposal the good offices of such a facilitator, it is conceivable, Mr. Speaker, that the process would not have broken down in the way it did.

I would like on this occasion to acknowledge and pay tribute to the quality of the contribution that is being made by the Royal Norwegian Government. They are approaching their task with a great deal of finesse and professionalism. They are not there simply to carry messages. We expect them to play a constructive role.

Our friends can help us, but they can never substitute their judgement eventually for the judgment of the contending parties. But they can certainly render a great deal of assistance. I do not think that we need to attach great significance to terminology. Where does facilitation end and where does mediation begin? These are mere labels. I do not think that they are of decisive importance in the circumstances in which we find ourselves.

It is also a relevant factor, Mr. Speaker, that we have the goodwill of the Government of India. It is in recognition of this consideration that the Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe decided upon India as the first country to visit after assumption of office.

We are in constant communication with religious leaders. The Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe is just now meeting the Ven. Madihe Pagnaseeha Thero. I myself visited the Mahanayake Theros of Malwatte and Asgiriya last weekend. We have spoken to leaders of the Catholic Church.

Whatever the situation may be elsewhere, the reality is that in our culture the views of religious leaders are of great significance. The business community, Mr. Speaker, also has a considerable role to play. To my mind, one of the most refreshing developments is the action taken by the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry to send a delegation to Jaffna.

I spoke a moment ago of the importance of sequencing. Prioritization is no less significant, Mr. Speaker. At the moment, to our mind, the most important consideration is the stability and the continuity of the ceasefire arrangements. We are doing everything we can to ensure that the Norwegian Government is successful in talking to the LTTE and in ensuring a stable basis for the ceasefire arrangements that are in place today.

What we have right now, Mr. Speaker, as you are aware, is the operation of two independent and unilateral ceasefires. That is quite acceptable for the moment because it rules out violence. But as we go along I do not think that, that is adequate. We would like to put in place a properly structured agreement containing terms and conditions which are mutually acceptable to the Government of Sri Lanka and to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

Mr. Speaker, we would also like to involve the community at large. It is important that the people of Sri Lanka must see these arrangements not as arrangements made clandestinely and furtively by politicians. They must perceive a direct benefit to all segments of the community. That, to our mind, is a very important consideration.

It is our view, Mr. Speaking, that the longer the ceasefire lasts, the greater are the prospects of peace in this country, because if there is peace then various activities can be strengthened.

The Hon. Lakshman Kadirgamar in his speech emphasized the fact that peace should not be sought at any cost. That is a proposition that is entirely acceptable to us.

The Hon. W. J. M. Lokubandara spoke of the need for military alertness. The Hon. Prime Minister in his statement also referred to that. That was one of the eight points which the Hon. Lakshman Kadirgamar referred to in the concluding paragraphs of his speech.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to say, that we have not forgotten security considerations. What we have done wherever possible is to substitute mobile units for stationary checkpoints. In doing so we have not relegated or in any way forgotten about the needs of security. But we have balanced the security considerations against the convenience of the public. I think that is a very practical way of resolving that problem.

The Hon. Nimal Siripala Silva said that international opinion, although important, is no substitute for the views of the people of our own country. The Hon. Ramalingam Chandrasekeran, representing the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, said that what is done should not exclusively contemplate the well-being of the people of one region. Mr. Speaker, I would like to say that international opinion is very important indeed.

That is one of the principal assets that we have in this very complex situation at the present time. What we wish to do is to take advantage of international opinion to render implementable on the ground, a political solution that entails benefit not just to one section of the people of Sri Lanka but to the population of our country as a whole.

This is what the Hon. Prime Minister had in mind, Mr. Speaker, when he said that we must keep international opinion on the side of Sri Lanka, we must take advantage of that situation.

It is in that context, Mr. Speaker, that the Hon. Prime Minister referred to the deproscription issue. The position as of now is that there is no firm decision which has been made with regard to this matter. The Hon. Prime Minister said that this matter had to be given deep thought.

He also referred to the safety net that is necessary with regard to the making of this decision. There would have to be conditions that refer to the good faith, the bona fides of the LTTE.

It is also necessary, Mr. Speaker, to have an understanding of all aspects of the issue. In that context the statement that was made two days ago by His Excellency Ashley Wills, the Ambassador of the United States to Sri Lanka, is exceedingly helpful. The point, therefore, to be made with clarity and emphasis is that there is no connection between the local operation of the ban and the international repercussions.

Mr. Speaker, there is a third element which I wish to refer to. I would like to pay tribute to the high quality of the services that are rendered today by the Secretariat which has been established for this purpose. The Secretariat is headed by Mr. Bernard Goonathilake, our former Ambassador in Belgium and assisting him are Mr. Palihakkara and Mr. John Gooneratne. We find their services invaluable in the work that the Hon. Milinda Moragoda and I are doing at present.

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