Industries chamber urges UNP to accept Rajapaksa's offer

Another Sri Lankan chamber has joined a chorus of support from the private sector towards President Mahinda Rajapaksa's call to the United National Party (UNP) to join him in the search for peace.

"Whatever the intentions of the President in offering ministerial posts to the UNP and other political party MPs who cross over, it is the view of our chamber that the UNP as a strong political force in the country should respond favourably to the President's call even under their own conditions and extend support even for a limited period," said A.K. Ratnarajah, Chairman of the Ceylon National Chamber of Industries (CNCI).

In line with a host of business leaders and chambers who welcomed President Rajapaksa's move 10 days ago, the CNCI said the UNP should join hands with the government, cooperate by sharing their "long years of experience in both economic and security matters to rescue mother Lanka from the grave situation it is presently in."

The chamber said the President too should in turn reciprocate with all sincerity to win the confidence of the leaders of the UNP if he honestly believes in a lasting solution to a conflict which has devastated our country for over two decades.

It said the ceasefire agreement signed in 2002 was a wise step by the government and the LTTE, making a beginning towards ending the hostilities. "Though CFA is still in tact on paper, in fact there is full blown war continuing for the past 3-4 weeks.

It is in this scenario that the UNP, architects of the CFA, should discuss and debate the merits and demerits of the continuance of CFA with the government and lend support to diffuse the aggravating security situation," the statement said.