President ready to talk with genuine negotiators

"If those who carry arms against the State are willing to enter a genuine negotiation towards a peaceful and democratic solution, the Government and the people will reciprocate, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said during his address to the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit in New Delhi yesterday.

Sri Lanka is determined to fight terrorism, while committed to seeking a negotiated and sustainable solution to the conflict.

In this, it would not be out of place to look forward to understanding and assistance from our regional neighbours and friends, especially those with whom we share the strongest bonds throughout history. We will see in such understanding and assistance the true signs of emerging greatness, said President Rajapaksa.

He said, Sri Lanka, remains a vibrant democracy, but lacked the advantage of a Constitution drawn up by our own people in keeping with our own ideals of freedom and governance. We began with a Constitution bestowed upon us by our former colonial ruler. The absence of a home-spun system of governance is something we are seeking to address today.

In addressing this we find it necessary to overcome the current threat of terrorism that is consuming so much of our energies and resources as it would in any other society too that is faced with such a daunting challenge. It may be allowed to look at the Sri Lanka that can be, it is evident that we too need to correct a growth imbalance that tends to confine development to certain politically advantaged areas of the country.

President Rajapaksa said the hopes of success in more even economic growth can be seen in the new development program that have been launched in the Eastern Province after the area was liberated from the forces of terror. This important achievement can pave the way for a speedy political solution curtailing terrorist fund-raising abroad and their illicit trafficking networks demonstrating to them that the way forward is to join the democratic mainstream in good faith.

"I am aware of the problems that developing countries face today with the threat of climate change. As I said at the United Nations last month, our countries need time and support for change after such a long period of being left behind in the development race in the colonial and post-colonial periods. We in South Asia must deliver on economic development to improve the lives of the millions of our people; that priority needs to be understood. Yet, we cannot be blind to the needs of the Earth and the needs of future generations," he said.

"India of tomorrow will I hope take a wider view of growth that takes into account the future of our globe of its glaciers oceans forests and all of its living people beings.

With the resources of science, technology and wealth available to it we are encouraged that India is exploring investment in green development hugely expanding opportunities for employment and bringing more wealth to the people. Such a lead could well be the defining spirit of the Asian century," President Rajapaksa said.

There is no doubt that all of us in the region look at India for a future strong economic leadership that will benefit not only India but also the other countries in the region. India must, whilst stabilizing itself as an economic power house help the neighbouring countries too to become economically stable. When I participated in the last SAARC meeting, I proposed that our region must go for a common currency. I wish to reiterate on this aspect of our economic stability, he said.

The very strength that will underline India's future would be best served by the strengthening of regional cooperation and bilateral relations. Let us bear in mind that we are now in the Asian Century. Prior to 1840 Asia was the economic heart of the world. Asia is regaining its rightful place today. Asia has given to the world the founders of all great religions. Asia must ensure, as it urges economically that it is looked up to for true leadership in this century and beyond with a moral dominance beyond comparison.

He said India now stands on the threshold of a unique position of leadership in the Asian Century. With her strength in people and democracy, and her leadership in economy and technology in the region, South Asia will increasingly look to India to position herself for more dynamic leadership of SAARC. India's neighbours will look forward to the sharing of her progress with them and to alleviate their concerns about instability in the region. As it was cogently put forth by a senior Indian diplomat, the challenge for Indian diplomacy in this era of growing Indian stature and prosperity is to demonstrate that India is not a threat but an opportunity for her neighbours and the region. It is also pertinent to note that India has a unique responsibility to ensure that the entire region maintains peace without any outbreak of regional wars.

If there is a key lesson to be drawn from the experience of the past 60 years, it is that the "home-grown" approach that is seen in the unique model of governance in India has served the country well in facing up to many of the challenges before it at the time of Independence and later. And, it is with our own "home-grown" solution that we seek to face up to Sri Lanka's own issues of governance including the conflict affecting the North of the country. A conflict which has been exploited by separatist forces who, through the use of unmitigated terror, pose a threat to India too. The Sri Lankan Government is facing up to this terrorist challenge with increasing success today, the President said.