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by L.B.A. Nawagattegama

After coming into power, we will initiate a dialogue with all political parties, clergy and civil society to arrive at a broad based political solution acceptable to all for the raging problems in the country, Colombo District UNP candidate Tyronne Fernando said while addressing party activists in Meegoda. Fernando further said: "We will also involve the LTTE in the process of dialogue. The UNP will not introduce Constitutional reforms until they arrive at a political solution acceptable to the majority of all communities.

Once a broad consensus is arrived at, it will be placed before the people at a referendum".

Asserting that the UNP was for a negotiated settlement in the resolution of the ethnic problem, Tyronne Fernando stated that this had been the position of the PA Government as well, which was underlined by the interview given by the President to the BBC> Therefore, it was incorrect to suggest that the UNP had links with the LTTE by virtue of the support extended to it by the Tamil parties who were only advocating the line of the PA and UNP for a negotiated settlement.

"The economy has been severely run down due to seven years of mismanagement by the PA. Even if the PA wants to continue the war, the current state of the economy will not permit it. Therefore it will be in the interest of the nation to end this conflict as soon as possible and get on with the war on the economic front which eventually will bring greater benefits to the people irrespective of communal differences", he said.

WPC Member, K. W. G. Dharmasena said: The UNP has drawn up plans to uplift the country from the present crisis situation without cheating the people.

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