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| Friday, 5 March 2004 |
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| PM stresses need to continue ceasefire by Bharatha Malawaraarachchi Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Wednesday stressed the necessity of continuing the current Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) to move forward the country towards peace and economic prosperity. "This agreement has greatly helped to strengthen the country. Therefore, it is necessary to safeguard this agreement in order to move forward the country, the Premier told an election rally in Mahara last evening. Referring to certain accusations made by the Freedom Alliance regarding the CFA, Premier Wickremesinghe said this agreement was necessary to reach a political settlement to the country's prolonged crisis. "This agreement has helped to create a peaceful atmosphere in the country. "People can now freely move anywhere. There are no barriers. It has saved a large number of human lives," he added. "The Freedom Alliance has accused us saying that we had divided the country by signing the CFA. How are they going to pursue the peace process without accepting that agreement ?" "The PA and JVP have disputes over the devolution of power and finding a lasting solution to the prolonged crisis. This dispute will drastically affect any attempt to find a solution to this national question," he added. The Premier said the country's prolonged war had devastated every sector of the economy, posing severe obstacle to the country's progress." It has destroyed the hopes and aspirations of several generations. Therefore, this election will be a decisive one in determining our future." He recalled how the country's economy was booming under the J.R. Jayewardene administration in the early 1980s." As a Minister of that Government, I witnessed the economy moving upward. But we lost all these expectations due to the ethnic crisis and the prolonged war. This will be the opportunity to grab our lost opportunities." He emphasised that the April 02 General Election will be a decisive one as it would determine the future of the peace process of Sri Lanka. The Premier who emphasised that no other party can continue this peace process said it is only the UNF which has the experience, ability and correct vision to pursue this peace process. Therefore, the Premier noted " Give a strong mandate to the United National Front (UNF) to establish peace and ensure economic prosperity." |
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