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| Sunday, 10 April 2005 |
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PM's Irish visit a milestone by M. P. Muttiah Dayan Jayatilleke, Senior Lecturer, Department of Political Science, University of Colombo said that the recent visit of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse to Ireland was an important milestone in the relations between the two countries. Jayatilleke added that this was the first highest level visit of Sri Lankan political leadership to Northern Ireland. Prime Minister Rajapakse had established contacts with Northern Ireland leaders and had extensive discussion with Sinn Fein's Martin McGuiness. His visit to Ulster University had paved way for establishing contacts with Irish intelligentsia, he said. Dayan Jayatilleke was speaking at the launching of the book Guns and Guinness, the Political Transformation of Militants, The Northern Ireland Case, written by Indika Perera, held recently at Colombo Hilton. Speaking further Jayatilleke said the mainstream political parties did not conduct themselves as the British parties at the peace talks. He said the book was informative, educative, authoritative and of immediate relevance to Sri Lanka. Former Treasury Secretary Charitha Ratwatte said the constitutional dimensions of Ireland were very interesting because it safeguarded the rights of all. Dr. Roger Macguinty of UK's York University, said there were positive and negative factors in the Northern Ireland peace process. He said that talks held between 1972 to 1989 failed as they were not inclusive. All the sides involved in the conflict should be in the table. Although Irish experience could help Sri Lanka, what it is needed is Sri Lankan solution. |
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