Financial Times - Sri Lankan private sector favours national govt.

Sri Lanka’s private sector came out strongly last week in favour of the formation of a national government urging the two parties - for the umpteenth time – to come together and salvage the peace process

"This is a golden opportunity for all parties to get together leaving aside their political differences to find a sustainable and peaceful solution in the interest of future generations," said Nawaz Rajabdeen, President of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL).

Surath Wickremasinghe, President of the Chamber of Construction Industry (CCI), Sri Lanka contended that a national government would be in the best interest of the country in a time of serious crisis.

Ceylon Chamber of Commerce President, Mahen Dayananda, welcomed a bipartisan approach by the two main political parties. "A bipartisan strategy will also not require an agreement on all aspects of the political agenda. The individual stakeholders can disagree on issues such as privatization, educational reforms and a host of other issues but they need to work together to develop proposals for the devolution of power which could then open the doors for negotiations with the LTTE," he said. Chambers and business leaders have consistently -- in the past – urged the formation of a national government and the country’s two main parties to come together to seek a political solution to the national question through a consensus.

Efforts in the past involved business leaders including a joint effort by Ken Balendra and Lalith Kotelawela some years back to bring the two parties together on the national question, didn’t work.

FCCISL Rajabdeen feels the president has set aside his political agenda and is making an honest approach to finding a peaceful solution. "This is the first time he (President) is extending his hand to all parties and I am very happy that the Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) and the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) is contemplating joining the government in support," he added.

According to CCI’s Wickremasinghe, nations around the world will extend their full support to bring peace to Sri Lanka.

Nirmala Samaratunga, President of the National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka (NCCSL) also welcomes the new initiatives and hoped the parties create the necessary consensus to restart the stalled peace process.

Given the seriousness of the crisis the country faces, Samaratunga hoped the UNP will accept the offer and facilitate the formation of a national government.

Susantha Ratnayake, Chairman of John Keells Holdings Limited, wholeheartedly supported the proposal for a national government while Cubby Wijetunga, Immediate Past Chairman of the Industrial Association, commending Rajapaksa for the gesture, felt a national government would be a reality if all right thinking people got together.

”We have over the past few years advocated that the two major parties in particular have a consensus and understanding on important or key issues concerning Sri Lanka. I would endorse the CCC and other chambers who are all right thinking in ensuring that we all get together. The format should be left to the politicians,” he said.