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by E. Weerapperuma in Trincomalee, and Reuters

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday urged Sri Lankans to be patient about the peace process. In his first major public statement since the Government and the LTTE agreed to a time frame for the start of peace talks, the PM, addressing the UNP National Executive Committee's closing sessions here, pointed out that it would take time to end the conflict.

"Achieving success in the peace talks is like removing a landmine. It will have to be done step by step, with patience," he said, adding: "Going with a fixed plan is like trying to remove a landmine in one go." The Prime Minister declared that the Government was prepared to discuss the setting up of an interim administration for the North-Eastern region in the forthcoming direct talks with the LTTE.

Noting that, when he had addressed a UNP rally in Trincomalee last year, he had to wear a bullet proof vest, the Premier pointed out that the success of the peace process initiated by the UNP-led United National Front government meant that, today, he could visit Trincomalee dressed in an ordinary shirt. The UNF government, he said, had delivered on peace whereas the previous PA government had failed to fulfil its promise of peace. Stressing the changes brought about by peace, he observed that all Sri Lankans could move about in all parts of the island today.

The Prime Minister said that he did not wish to be a popular leader but a leader with a commitment to take even harder and more unpalatable decisions for the betterment of the country.

"I do not want to be a popular leader. I want to be a leader who works for the country. We are living in very hard times and we have to take decisions thinking of the good of the country. Even if our decisions are bitter and hard we have to take such decision for the best of the country", he said.

The Prime Minister also invited all political parties to join hands with the Government to resolve the ethnic issue and to bring about peace and an atmosphere suitable for all communities to live with dignity. The religious leaders advise us to work without entering into political confrontations.

We are ready to work in harmony with all political parties. We invite all political parties, the PA and the JVP to come with us. While we are ready to work on non-confrontational politics, we like to ask others whether they are ready for such a move", the Premier said. Premier Wickremesinghe also said that the country could achieve greater things once peace was stabilised. He said that in September, talks would begin in Thailand, a Theravada Buddhist Country. The SLMC will also go with us and we go to the negotiating table not as the UNP but as the Government of this country.

He also said that he did not wish to talk about a time frame for the talks. "Both sides have their standpoints. Each side should try to understand the other and the background that led to their stand. Then we can sustain the talks for a longer period. There are bound to be problems. It is natural and if no problem arises it would be surprising", he said.

He also stressed the fact that the Government had not moved away from its original position. "Our final goal is peace and providing an opportunity to all to live with dignity in an undivided country", he said. He recalled that the people had voted the UNP led United National Front to govern the destinies of this country realizing well that the PA could not deliver the goods and could not fulfill the aspirations of the people. The people also reaffirmed their confidence in us when they voted in the May local government election", he said.

Premier Wickremesinghe further said that the government has fulfilled the responsibility on its part laid as a result of the MoU. We have moved armed forces from schools and religious places as we promised. We remember that when the JVP uprising came in the South we had to place the armed forces in schools and religious places. Once the catastrophic period was over we moved the armed forces and placed them elsewhere. Nobody likes to see armed forces being kept in schools or religious places "But we have not reduced the numbers and when the time comes the Defence Minister and those in authority will take appropriate action.

He said that the UNP went for both Presidential Election and two general Elections with the promise to set up an Interim Administration and added that the government has not deviated from that concept. "The LTTE is ready to accept the Interim administration we propose. This Interim administration framework runs under the Constitution of Sri Lanka and that was very important to keep in mind".

UNP Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya, Ministers W.J.M. Lokubandara, Rajitha Senaratne, Johnston Fernando, Prof.G.L. Peiris, Gamini Lokuge, Rauff Hakeem, Imtiaz Bakeer Marker, Mrs. Rosy Senanayake, Ms Chandrani Bandara and former Trincomalee district UNP MP Sunilsantha Ranawera also addressed the meeting.

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