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| Sunday, 25 January 2004 |
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Politics |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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First phase of a grander alliance - President President Chandrika Kumaratunga on Friday described the SLFP- JVP alliance as the first phase of a grander alliance. Rejecting media reports that the alliance has jeopardised the peace process, she reiterated her stand that "all major political forces must get together if the country is to rid itself of this long-standing crisis". The President emphasised that the SLFP and JVP had reached a compromise especially with regard to the economy and the ethnic issue. She said "a market economy with a human face" would be the alliance's economic principle, which would revive and adopt global advances in modern technology, maximise foreign capital investment on the basis of mutual benefit with a view to opening the country to global economic progress, while caring for the poorer sections of the population, through a social safety net. President Kumaratunga said that during her entire political life she had been committed to a negotiated settlement of the conflict and added both parties in the alliance believed that 'war was not the solution' to the ethnic issue. However, she said the alliance did have some reservations on certain aspects in the manner in which Prime Minister Wickremesinghe was conducting the peace process. President Kumaratunga stated that she regrets the slowing down of the reconstruction of the North-East commenced by the PA government. She believes that development work must forge ahead despite the vicissitudes of the peace process. The President was appreciative of the recent statement made by Mr. Thamilselvan, LTTE political wing leader, expressing willingness to negotiate peace with any southern party with a people's mandate irrespective of the individuals who may hold power. |
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