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| Sunday, 10 October 2004 |
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Consensus building : Ranil keeps aloof Weekly Newscan by Ajarath The UPFA government continued its efforts to find a consensus among political parties on the peace process and the reconstruction of the war-torn Northeast province. Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe in a reply to the President's request to participate at the inauguration of the National Advisory Council on Peace and Reconciliation, said that the government should hold talks on the ISGA proposal submitted by the LTTE. He also said that his Party would not participate at the NACPR. Another effort In spite of this stand of the Opposition Leader, President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, in a letter to the Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, again urged the UNP to reconsider its stance on the National Advisory Council on Peace and Reconciliation. She said that this would provide a constructive forum for the government to continually keep the country and its representatives informed of the progress and issues of the peace process on the one hand, and on the other for the government to obtain the views of the country, mainly through its political representatives as well as from religious leaders and representatives of various interests groups. Against a united voice The Most Venerable Thibbotuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatte Chapter expressed concern over the UNP's keeping away from the NACPR. He said that he could not understand why the UNP leadership was keeping away from the forum. He said that when President Kumaratunga had convened the NACPR in a bid to raise a united voice to find a solution it was very unfortunate that the UNP had kept away from talks. Who is the boss? While, the Opposition Leader was insisting to begin talks on the basis of the ISGA, UNP spokesman G.L. Peiris called on the President to immediately initiate peace talks based on the Oslo Declaration indicating that the UNP would offer its support whenever issues crop-up. He said that the President had the fullest approval of the UNP. Urged to start talks At the same time, the Tamil National Alliance, urged the President to start peace talks with the LTTE on the basis of the ISGA proposals in accordance with her assurance given to the TNA on June 10. The TNA said that it was its considered view that if the government took clear and courageous action to resume talks, which the government hitherto failed to do, the peace process could be taken forward. Such a stand would receive substantial support within Parliament and in the country. Silence broken Norway broke its long-drawn silence over the LTTE's post-CFA killing spree. The Royal Norwegian Embassy in Colombo said, Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister Vidar Helgessen had conveyed his country's growing concern over the LTTE's unceasing breach of Ceasefire Agreement and had made clear that Norway condemned the political killings carried out by the Tigers, to the LTTE's political Wing Head Thamilselvan when they met in Geneva. Headache in Geneva Meanwhile, the International Commission of Jurists, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have called on the LTTE to end political killings and the recruitment of child solider and demonstrate how they would respect international humanitarian and human rights law in Sri Lanka. Nicholas Howen, Secretary General of the ICJ, said that they appealed to senior LTTE leaders to show the world that they were both willing and capable of respecting the lives of all Sri Lankans. Effort to control CoL The government in an effort to slash Cost of Living, has abolished custom duty on rice. The President directed the concerned authorities to inform the rice importers including the CWE that rice could be imported free of custom duty till December 31. Meanwhile, the first shipment of rice imported from India and Pakistan arrived at the Colombo harbour. The rice was imported on a directive from the Minister of Trade and Commerce and Consumer Affairs Jeyaraj Fernandopulle. The Secretary to the Ministry said that 15,000 metric tonnes of rice was required for local consumption till December and 13,000 metric tonnes of rice would be imported to meet the requirements. NIC compulsory Parliament passed by 191 votes the Elections Special Provision Bill seeking to make the National Identity Card compulsory for voting but with an amendment agreed upon by the Government and the Opposition UNP, as well as the JHU. However, none of the members present at the time of voting opposed the Bill. The Ilankai Tamilarasu Kachchi members were absent at the time of vote, though they took part in the debate. |
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