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The Government of Sri Lanka will explore all avenues to induce the LTTE to come for talks and find a political solution, President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga said on a live satellite television link-up with residents of the Jaffna peninsula last night. President Kumaratunga also said the Government was committed to the peace process facilitated by Norway. "But talks have been delayed during the past five months due to the LTTE's insistence on new demands and conditions. The Government however remains committed to finding a negotiated political settlement to the ethnic conflict," the President told the people of Jaffna in the special address, which coincided with May Day. "We believe the people of Jaffna would be able to persuade the LTTE to abandon their violent ways and agree to a solution that upholds democracy. Today, the people of Jaffna are free to hold May Day rallies. The Government was able to restore democracy in all parts of the country. I know that the people of Jaffna value democracy and peace. We hope to usher in peace to the North-East without delay," she said. She stressed that the Government has given priority to the economic and social development of war affected areas. As a matter of policy, the Government seeks to guarantee equal rights to all communities and to find a solution to the ethnic conflict. No problem can be solved by war alone and the Government firmly believes that the war is not the answer to the problems faced by the minorities, she added. The majority community at several consecutive elections has endorsed this view. "A political settlement to the ethnic conflict was the aim of the proposed new Constitution, which we could not pass in Parliament as the UNP refused to cooperate. We have not given up efforts to find a solution to this vexed problem and remain hopeful of establishing peace in the North-East soon," the President concluded.
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