Broad consensus on Geneva talks

[March 6, 2006 - 10.45 GMT]

The third All Party Conference (APC) ended with all parties reaching broad consensus regarding the outcome of last month’s Geneva talks. Today’s APC was well represented with the SLMC, CWC and the Western Province Peoples Front Leader Mano Ganesan also attending.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa was congratulated for perusing the path of negotiation and his search for consensus in the South.

The JVP and the JHU while expressing certain reservations nevertheless agreed to extend their support to the next round of talks to be held in April.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa opened the conference held at the Presidential Secretariat and called on delegation Head Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva to outline the Geneva talks as the Government’s representative. Minister de Silva explained that the delegation represented all the parties at the APC not only the Government. He stressed that there were no personal on party agenda, but only the need to make the talks successful for the country.

Minister Nimal Siripala said the Government allowed the LTTE delegation to make the first address as the Government wanted to be more flexible.

UNP repeated its wish of being informed if there were any changes were made to the Ceasefire Agreement. UNP representative Karu Jayasuriya also stressed the need for political victimization to be stopped and reduction in the current level of political rivalry. He added that in addition to meeting at the APC the UNP wishes to meet the President separately to further pursue the search for consensus towards peace.

Another APC will take place before the April talks, also be held in Geneva, to obtain views from all parties, to make the talks more successful.

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Last Updated Date: March 6, 2006 -10.45 GMT