President Rajapaksa seeks consensus at Geneva talks

[February 8, 2006 - 8.00 GMT]

Inaugurating a workshop on approaches to the upcoming negations with the LTTE, President Mahinda Rajapaksa emphasized that in working with regard to the future of the country it was necessary for all sectors to work on a clear consensus and thinking on the current issues. He stressed the importance of participating in the scheduled peace talks paying due respect to the views and experience of all participants at the talks.
 
President Mahinda Rajapaksa chaired a workshop to obtain the views and enhance the awareness of all stakeholders with regard to the talks scheduled to be held shortly in Geneva, Switzerland.

The main purpose of this workshop, held at the Presidential Secretariat, was to discuss means of implementing the declaration in the Mahinda Chintana of obtaining a pluralistic agreement and achieving peace with dignity that ensures the rights of all peoples of Sri Lanka, and obtaining the views of all parties on a programme of work to achieve this goal.

This workshop afforded an opportunity for discussion among delegates of the Government at the scheduled talks with the LTTE, to exchange views with several representatives of other organizations as to how the issues with regard to the Ceasefire Agreement could be resolved and how the CFA could be better implemented.

Arrangements have been made to obtain the views and proposals of professionals, entrepreneurs, organizations of Civil Society and representatives of people in the North and East in on the talks at Geneva in the coming days.

It was attended by leaders and representatives of political parties, Heads of the Security Forces, lawyers, academics, and other personnel of the State sector who expressed their views on the current situation.

Those who participated at the workshop included Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva  leader of the Government delegation to the Geneva talks; Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera, Ministers Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa and Douglas Devananda. It was also attended by the leader of the JVP Somawansa Amarasinghe and the leader of the JVP Parliamentary Group Wimal Weerawansa; Champika Ranawaka and Udaya Gamanpilla of the JHU; and intellectuals including Attorney-at-law Mr. S. L Gunasekera and several other academics.

Others present were the Secretary to the President Mr. Lalith Weerathunga, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance P. B. Jayasundera, Secretary to the Ministry of Plan Implementation Mr. Ajith Cabraal, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Gothabhaya Rajapaksa, officials of the Governments Peace Secretariat, the Heads of the Armed Forces and the Inspector General of Police.

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Last Updated Date: February 8, 2006 - 8.00 GMT