JVP must team up with Government

As far as governance goes, the ideal situation for Sri Lanka would be a broad-based government, inclusive of all our significant political forces.

With an important segment of the UNP joining the Government this ideal has almost been reached but things would have been even more advantageous if the JVP too figured in the administration.

What is needed right now is a wide political consensus on the major issues facing Sri Lanka. With the recent cross-over to the Government of some heavy weights in the UNP, along with the SLMC, the possibility of achieving such a consensus is great.

However, the Government's hands and those of President Mahinda Rajapaksa would have been even further strengthened if the JVP too lent its considerable weight and support to the Government.

The need for this has been made even greater with the JHU considering joining the administration. What is needed for a weighty Southern consensus is the JVP and we hope it would decide in favour strengthening the Mahinda Rajapaksa administration.

The recent military triumphs in the East by the Security Forces make the formation of this Southern consensus even more urgent.

This is the time to send out the message to the routed LTTE that a Southern political consensus exists and that it should think of negotiating in earnest with the Government.

Military triumphs are of tremendous significance to the Government and there is no doubting this.

However, if the military triumph is accompanied by a solid Southern consensual solution on the conflict, the Tigers would have no choice but to give frank and earnest talks a chance.

However, such an advantageous situation could be squandered by important political forces of the South seeking to confront the Government or by attempts by them to go their own way.

Therefore, we call on the JVP to reconsider its decision to remain outside the Government. A historic opportunity to resolve the conflict is offering itself. Let it not go astray is our message to the JVP. For, a disunited South would only prove advantageous to the LTTE which is, of course, seeking Sri Lanka's ruin.

The opportunity is also presenting itself to evolve a home-grown solution - an ideal of President Rajapaksa. At this juncture it would prove extremely ruinous for the political forces of the South to approach each other dogmatically.

Rather than shun each other on the basis of preconceptions and prejudices, these parties of the South would do well to sit at the same table and discuss their different approaches to resolving the conflict.

The chances are that out of such meetings of minds, a common position could be carefully crafted, out of a process of give and take. In this way will be framed the hitherto elusive Southern consensus or the long-awaited home grown solution.

Therefore, we strongly urge the JVP to bear these considerations in mind. The Government needs to be exceedingly strong and widely - inclusive if the historic moment which has arrived is to be meaningfully used. We need hardly tell the JVP that unity is strength.

Let not the country be weakened as a result of any one party thinking narrowly and taking into consideration its short-term interests only.

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