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President appeals for support from all parties
By Chandani Kirinde
President Mahinda Rajapakse yesterday made an open appeal to the main opposition party – the United National Party (UNP) and all other political parties and movements to extend their support to the Government‘s peace efforts.

The appeal came during his address to the nation as the country celebrated its 58th year of independence, celebrated with pomp and glory at the Galle Face Green last morning amidst tight security. It was the first time in 28 years that the Independence Day celebrations were being held at the Galle Face.
However, neither UNP Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe nor representatives of the JVP or the JHU were present at the occasion.

Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga who was scheduled to attend did not do so either.The President said the Government’s search for a southern consensus by separate talks with political parties and though the All Party Conference has been successful and in a few days the Government will begin discussions with the LTTE as well.“Our aim is to bring about a national consensus that is brought about by broad and deep discussions. I invite all of you to set aside whatever narrow debates and divisions there may be and come together with the singular determination to overcome the challenge that has evaded solution for half a century, the President said.

The President said that first among the challenges the country faced is finding a solution to the national issue and the achievement of a genuine and sustainable peace. He said the new peace process shall always be a transparent process and said the Government is not preparing to forcibly being about a solution.

“We should bear well in our minds that if we are to stop the increasing flow of blood through war, we should shed more and more sweat in the cause of peace,” the President said. Similarly, he warned, that the Government would not be frightened by threats from any quarter.

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