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UNP Parliamentarian Bandula Gunawardane advocates that the two main parties, the UNP and SLFP should come to an understanding to settle national issues, as such problems cannot any longer be solved by a single party. In an interview with the Sunday Observer staffer Jayantha Sri Nissanka, Gunawardene said he was not advocating any form of a National Government but the two main parties should shed politics on priorities.

Q: What is your analysis on the peace process?

A: Sri Lanka is confronted by two major problems today. Firstly a solution to the North and East (N&E) and secondly the alleviation of poverty. We must realise that we cannot find a solution to the N&E problem through war. The war has immensely contributed to rampant poverty especially in the N&E and rural areas. Country's economic development has been delayed as a result of the war.

Today the rupee has been devalued to Rs. 103.10. Lending interest rates have increased and it is the highest interest rates in Asia. Inflation is soaring. Inflation could further go up once the petrol and diesel prices are adjusted soon. Since we have not increased oil prices in keeping with world market price fluctuations, the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation loss amounts to Rs. 25 billion.

The Government is also facing a public finance crisis and the private sector has adopted a wait and see policy. I am sure that President Mahinda Rajapaksa is very keen on solving these problems.

Therefore, postponing problems will further aggravate the situation. Today the Government is borrowing funds through Dollar Bond to settle loan instalments. Malaysia gave a federal solution to their ethnic problem and surged into an economic boom. We must think like that. Otherwise Sri Lanka will be a country like tribal Africa.

Q: How could we prevent the LTTE from going back to war?

A: Finding a solution to the N&E problem is a tough task. During our tenure too peace talks were derailed. We were unable to work it alone. That is why Ranil Wickremesinghe involved more countries through the Tokyo donor conference.

We must get the assistance of conflict resolution specialists to move the peace process forward. The two main parties hold the responsibility of solving the problems of the country. I strongly advocate that the two main parties should come to an agreement on country's major problems forgetting politics.

I am not saying that both parties should form a National Government. But the two parties should come to an agreement on national issues. Otherwise, this country will plunge into a precipice where no one can get the country back on track again. At least now we must stop playing politics on national issues.

Q: But can we ever get the UNP and SLFP together to find solutions for national issues. Will it be like the support UNP extended towards the draft Constitution in 2000?

A: The UNP withdrew the support to the new Constitution Bill because the PA Government included provisions which we never agreed with the purpose of extending the tenure of then President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga by many more years. That is why I am saying that private agendas should not be tied up with national issues.

Q: Do you think that members in your party will welcome your idea?

A: We must understand that no party alone can move this country from present situation. Every party has members who have different opinions and private agendas. But time is ripe to unite on national issues. The UNP is ready to support the Government to devolve power to the N&E under a united Sri Lanka framework.

Q: Your leader Ranil Wickremesinghe internationalised this domestic issue by bringing the Co-Chairs. But today Co- Chairs pressurise the Government and only issue statements condemning the ceasefire violations of the LTTE. Are we trapped in international politics?

A: We condemn the killings by the LTTE. Killings will further strengthen the separation of the N&E. Norway was brought to handle this issue by the then President Kumaratunga during the PA-JVP Government. We invited America, Canada, UK and Japan to further strengthen the facilitation to push both parties for a peaceful settlement. Otherwise, it is difficult to find a solution due to various differences. Only these countries have the ability to bring the two parties together.

Q: The CFA has created many problems in the country. However, the CFA was signed even without consent of the Cabinet. Do you think that if Ranil Wickremesinghe had shown the CFA to the Cabinet, many loopholes could have been averted at that point?

A: Ranil Wickremesinghe sought Cabinet permission to prepare the CFA and we gave him the power to do so. Nobody can formulate any document foreseeing all the problems that would erupt in the future because no one can predict the future. Wickremesinghe is not an astrologer to predict what will happen in the future. What ever it is, during the last four years the war crimes reduced because of the CFA.

Q: But some provisions in the CFA have created many obstacles to the security forces and it has greatly helped the LTTE. Do you think that if it was put before the Cabinet at that time, these errors could have been minimised?

A: There are provisions in the CFA enabling both parties to go for amendments or withdraw from the CFA. If amendments are needed both parties should get together with the facilitators to amend the CFA. No one can prepare any CFA foreseeing all practical problems.

Q: But the LTTE is against amendments to the CFA. Can we move forward the peace process on this basis?

A: It's the ability of the Government to get the LTTE to agree to the amendments through practical means. However, the CFA was able to halt large scale civilian killings in the country.

This is a complicated two decade old issue. Now the war has stopped for four years. We cannot expect the LTTE to have patience to maintain this position forever. Therefore, the two main parties should get together to solve this problem as it has reached a decisive point.

Q: Do you think the LTTE is genuinely committed towards peace?

A: If the LTTE withdraws from the peace talks, we never know the consequences. But one thing I am sure that such a withdrawal will have a detrimental effect on the country. We don't know where it will end. Therefore, we must keep the LTTE at the peace table.

Q: What is your view on Government's approach on peace?

A: The Government has realized the reality.

Before the Presidential election, leaders of this Government had one stand on the N&E problem. After going to the Geneva talks, the Government promised to protect the CFA and respect it changing the original stand.

However, the Government should work towards halting the war. If the war start again, then the country's future will be very bleak. The Government should not let the LTTE run away from the peace table.

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