7 May 2012 05:30 pm
UNP spokesman and Galle District MP Gayantha Karunatileke told journalists that with the new impetus his party would work towards a permanent reconciliation between the North now South.
“We have been able to send a positive message to the world as we have shown that the Tamil parties in the country are ready to join mainstream politics without lobbying for separatism,” he said.
Mr. Karunatilleke said the government too had a role to play in resolving the national question through a political solution but unfortunately there was a lack of consensus within government ranks on a political solution.
“With regard to the 13th Amendment, the Government is unable to decide whether it’s going to be plus or minus despite the repeated assurances given in the recent past,” he said.
When asked whether party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe had asked for a report on the participation of the party members at the UNP’s May Day celebrations in Jaffna last week, Mr. Karunatilleke confirmed that such a report would be submitted to Mr. Wickremesinghe and that there was nothing unusual about the party leader calling for it. He said this matter would be discussed at the party’s working committee meeting. (Yohan Perera)