Consensus sought for solution

6 June 2010 05:58 pm

The government is to have a broad spectrum of consultations in order to achieve a consensus for a political solution, External Affairs Minister G.L Peiris told the 9th IISS Asia Security Summit at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore today.

He noted that tomorrow President Mahinda Rajapaksa will be meeting representatives of Tamil political parties, to ascertain their own views with regard to constitutional reform adding that the Tamil political parties must make a vigorous input into the processes of political reform.

“Many governments in Sri Lanka during the last 15 years have endeavoured to put in place a viable political solution, but regrettably none of these efforts succeeded because of the lack of a sufficient consensus in the country in support of the implementation of the proposals that were made. We do not wish to add yet another leaf to the thicket; it is our effort this time to have as broad a spectrum of consultation as possible, in order to achieve a consensus that would enable the proposals that are ultimately made to be implemented on the ground,” the Minister said.

He also noted that Sri Lanka has set up a Reconciliation Commission, drawing upon the experience of South Africa in particular, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, with which the name of Desmond Tutu is indelibly associated. 

The emphasis is not on retribution, not on punishment, or the imposition of sanctions.  But, rather, on restorative justice, enabling people to pick up the pieces, to get on with their lives.  The State is firmly resolved to put at their disposal all the resources that would facilitate this difficult task, Peiris said.

“The Government of Sri Lanka has no illusions that a military victory per se is going to provide us with a durable and lasting solution,” he added.

The Minister also noted that the Diaspora in the Western World and elsewhere have a dynamic role to play and urged them to choose for themselves a constructive mode of engagement instead of financially supporting destructive activities, to annihilate the people of Sri Lanka.