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By Jayantha Sri Nissanka and M. P. Muttiah

A cross section of the society and politicians speaking to the Sunday Observer commended the Government and the LTTE for ironing out differences to ensure that the Ceasefire Agreement was effective at the Geneva Talks.

They urged both sides to continue talks with a view to bringing permanent peace to the nation within a stipulated time period and adopt a `give and take' policy.

They said the people, economy and development had suffered badly as a result of petty politics played to checkmate each other in the past and the time has now come to end bickering.

Tamil National Alliance Parliamentarian N. Raviraj said the benefit of peace should reach the people. High Security Zones are sensitive issues. They affect the normal life of the people. There are 25,000 people in temporary camps in Jaffna and other areas. The President should take meaningful steps to resolve this issue.

PLOTE leader D. Sidhdharthan welcomed the Geneva Talks and stressed the need to uphold the Ceasefire Agreement. It was a success for President Mahinda Rajapakse, he noted. Sidhdharthan recalled that the President was portrayed as a 'war man' during the presidential election campaign, but he had proved otherwise. It is a good sign that the two sides have agreed to stop killings and abductions.`We are hopeful that the LTTE would abide by the agreement.

TULF Leader V. Anandasangaree said that Tamils in Jaffna live like slaves. They have no freedom of speech and movement irrespective of whether the area is cleared or uncleared.

He claimed that there was no government control in Jaffna and added that the LTTE had recruited 1,700 underage children as soldiers since the CFA of 2002 and 600 adults had been abducted.

The LTTE should release them. The Government Agent in Jaffna should not carry out orders from the LTTE but only from the Government. "I am from Kilinochchi, I was the Member of Parliament, but now I cannot visit any of the 11 electorates in the Jaffna District," Anandasangaree lamented.

Ceylon Worker's Congress Vice President R. Yogarajan welcomed the Geneva talks as a positive sign. He said the CWC had pointed out the need to strengthen the CFA at the All Party Conference.

He congratulated both parties for the bold commitment to end violence and continue the negotiations to solve the ethnic issue.``We would extend our fullest support and cooperation to President Mahinda Rajapakse," Yogarajan added.

Upcountry People's Front Central Committee Member and Parliamentarian P. Radhakrishan said the progress made at the Geneva Talks should continue to strengthen the CFA. He stressed the need for the government to take another step forward to show its goodwill by resettling the displaced from the High Security Zones. President Mahinda Rajapakse could win over the minds of the Tamils with positive measures, Radhakrishan said.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Sri Lanka, D. E. W. Gunasekera said at the commencement the talks were positive. Since the collapse of talks in April, 2003 and what could not be achieved during the three year-period of stalemate, the government of President Mahinda Rajapakse was able to achieve within three months as he pledged to the people during the presidential election campaign.

Gunasekera said that he did not expect any miracle at the talks. The decisions taken at the talks were based on the objective reality, because the consent of both parties relating to the CFA was salutary and opened the door for confidence building measures which would create a breathing space and breakthrough in the peace process.

UNP Parliamentarian Dr. Rajitha Senaratne claimed that the Talks was a victory for his party as well. He said although the JVP and JHU wanted to revise the CFA, the government and the LTTE had agreed to strengthen it. He welcomed the commitment of parties to shun violence and killings.`It is a good thing that the LTTE had agreed to stop recruitment of chid soldiers. New Left Front Leader Dr. Wickremabahu Karunaratne said the Geneva Talks was an achievement of the government. It has taken the first step towards the settlement of the ethnic issue. Dr. Karunaratne said his Front would support the government.

Sri Lanka Muslim Congress Parliamentarian Hassan Ali said that both the government and the LTTE claimed victory for the talks. It was important how those decisions would be implemented.

Prof. S. T. Hettige of the University of Colombo said that any kind of understanding is a positive development in the conflict resolution management to find a permanent solution to the conflict and parties should be optimistic of the results. Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekara emphasised that the Government had performed satisfactorily first time in its administration. Venerable Prof. Kuburugamuwe Vajira thera commended the commitment from both sides for peace.

He wanted the Government to take immediate steps to help North and East (N&E) people who are languishing poor living conditions, without basic human needs.

Father Cyril Gamini thanked both sides for agreeing to honour the CFA. He too emphasized that the Government and the LTTE must bring the life in N&E back to normal.

Lawyer Chamila Jayasuriya said that both sides should be flexible in their approach to the conflict. He urged the Government to take immediate steps to start rehabilitation work in the N&E.

President of the Public Service Trade Union W. H. Piyadasa described Geneva Talks as a victory for the nation. President Mahinda Rajapakse pledged to start talks within three months. The process of understanding is commendable for future talks.

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