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"A solution that does not endorse the human rights of our people, and the democratic practices they have long enjoyed, will only serve to strengthen the forces of extremism and terrorism in our country," Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse speaking at the banquet hosted by Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf on Friday said.

He reiterated the Sri Lanka government was attempting to bring about a sustainable peace, with dignity for all. "We are doing so by engaging all parties and groups to arrive at a solution that fulfills the aspirations of all our people, within an undivided country" the President observed.

President Rajapakse who is on a state visit to Pakistan said that any threat to peace was also a threat to social and economic development.

"In many parts of the world, including our own, we have seen the rise of extremism in various shapes and forms" the President said, adding that a threat to peace and security will be a challenge to social and economic development.

President Rajapakse expressed support for his Pakistani counterpart in his battle against extremism. The President who stressed the need to wipe out social and economic imbalances and shortcomings added that, "our path to social progress is through gaining access to science and technology, committing ourselves to higher education for all and developing our human resources to the maximum".

The President said the government attempted to bring about a sustainable peace with dignity for all, adding that it is engaging in an all-party dialogue to seek a solution to the ethnic conflict.

"A solution that does not endorse the human rights of our people and democratic practices they have long enjoyed will only serve to strengthen the forces of extremism and terrorism in our country.

Following is the full text of President Rajapakse's address:

"It is indeed an honour and a privilege to be here in this wonderful city, among friendly people. Excellency, let me convey to you our sincere appreciation of your warm words of welcome. Let me also thank you for the kind sentiments that have been expressed about Sri Lanka, her people and myself. My wife joins me in conveying to you and to Madam Begum Sehba Musharraf, our gratitude and thanks for the generous hospitality and friendship extended to me and my delegation.

"Excellency, the people of Pakistan and Sri Lanka are the children of a common South Asian culture and heritage. The majesty and glory of the two great cities of 5000 years ago, Mohenjodaro and Harappa, located here on the soil of Pakistan, charms the mind of every South Asian man and woman.

The grace and compassion that find expression in the gentle Buddha images of Gandhara, belonging once again to Pakistan, continue to stimulate the spirit of the Buddhists of Sri Lanka, even to this very day.

The very memory of Taxila, just 35 Kilometres away from today's Islamabad, and once a major centre of Buddhist philosophy and learning, brings together the hands of the simple Buddhist peasant of my country in a gentle act of prayer and worship. So much history and culture hold us together. It is no surprise, therefore, that the peoples of Pakistan and Sri Lanka have remained bound together by strong ties of friendship and cooperation.

"The friendship that always found expression in our bilateral relations has now extended itself to the fields of business and economic cooperation. I make my first state visit to Pakistan with the knowledge that our relations are close and friendly. I am happy to say that we have been able to build further on this foundation through the fruitful talks we had with Your Excellency today.

"Excellency, it was during your visit to Sri Lanka in 2002, that we laid the foundation for the first Free Trade Agreement between our two countries. We have seen in operation the first positive results of this landmark agreement. I am now in a position to state with confidence that our two countries stand today at the door-step of a new era in business and economic cooperation.

"The volume of bilateral business between our two countries has increased after the advent of the Free Trade Agreement. Our exports too have increased.

Let us try and further strengthen our economic and business ties. I hope our business delegation will use the opportunity of the present visit to encourage joint business ventures and develop more and more economic investment.

"The partnership between our two countries moves forward with the agreements we have signed today. We shall explore the potential for cooperative activities between the centres of learning in our two countries. We have agreed to exploit the possibility of generating economic prosperity and mutual understanding through tourism, - a potential that remains under-utilized so far. We have agreed to work for the mutual enrichment of our two countries through a greater exchange of the knowledge and wisdom contained in our respective cultures.

"Your Excellency, despite our cooperation and the strengthening of our bilateral relations, our South Asian region remains one of the poorest in the world. It is our firm conviction that the eradication of poverty requires us to develop a regional economic framework and encourage regional economic integration.

"The SAARC Summit in Dhaka last year, saw the birth of the South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA). This landmark agreement, together with the bilateral Free Trade Agreements we already have, will help release the economic potential and energies of our people.

"Peace, security and economic progress represent three central values of human development. As development goals, they are inter-connected and inter-dependent, one with the other. A challenge to the goal of economic and social progress will also mean a challenge to peace and security. A threat to peace and security will be at the time a challenge to social and economic development.

"In many parts of the world, including our own, we have seen the rise of extremism in various shapes and forms. "Your Excellency's vision for Pakistan and the region is based on the three central values of human development mentioned earlier. Extremism and intolerance have no place in this vision for the future.

"We all aspire to live in a peaceful, free and just society. And in order to do so, we need to wipe out the social and economic imbalances and shortcomings that stand in the way of our target. Our path to social progress is through gaining access to science and technology, committing ourselves to higher education for all, and developing our human resources to the maximum.

"In Sri Lanka our government is attempting to bring about a sustainable peace, with dignity for all. We are doing so by engaging all parties and groups to arrive at a solution that fulfils the aspirations of all our people, within an undivided country. A solution that does not endorse the human rights of our people, and the democratic practices they have long enjoyed, will only serve to strengthen the forces of extremism and terrorism in our country.

"In this context, Your Excellency, permit me to underline the role of the international community, which is to ensure that extremist forces are not allowed to undermine the accepted norms of civilized conduct. Let me take this opportunity to express our gratitude to Pakistan, both for your understanding of our problems and for your assistance to Sri Lanka at all times.

"With your vision, Excellency, of a modern Islamic nation, Pakistan has moved forward impressively towards the goal of economic and social progress. We strongly commend your concept of 'enlightened moderation' which contains within it a creative mix of modernity and heritage. It is our view that under your leadership, Pakistan could realise the vision of the country's Founding Father.

Quaid-i-Azam, Mohamed Ali Jinnah, wanted Pakistan to be 'at peace within and at peace without'. Excellency, for more than half a century, the governments of Pakistan and Pakistan's people have related to us with understanding and extended their support to us.

These bonds of friendship flow out of the openness with which our two countries have related to each other at all times.

We recall the concern with which our people responded to each other's plight, when natural disasters struck our two countries in the recent past. "We are grateful to the government and people of Pakistan for their generous support for rehabilitation after the tragedy of the tsunami of 2004. We, in turn, watch with sympathy as Pakistan rebuilds the areas destroyed by the earthquakes of October 2005.

The people of Sri Lanka have made their own modest contribution to the relief programme of Your Excellency's government. This was our token of sympathy, concern and gratitude.

"Excellency, permit me to conclude by recalling the message sent to us by your country's Founding Father, when we regained our independence from British rule on the 4th of February 1948. (I quote) "Pakistan has the warmest goodwill towards Ceylon and I am confident that the good feeling which exists between our two peoples will be further strengthened as the years roll by and our common interests and the mutual reciprocal handling of them, will bring us into still closer friendship". (Unquote) "Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen: May I invite you to join me in offering our sincere good wishes for the health, well-being and success of His Excellency President Musharraf and Madam Begum Musharraf.

May this also be the occasion for me to express the hope, that the bonds of friendship between Sri Lanka and Pakistan will be further strengthened under Your Excellency's leadership.

"Excellency, I think there is no better toast than the one which is traditional in Islamic culture: "Assalamu Alaikum: May Peace be upon you".

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