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Kumaratunga invites LTTE for fresh talks

Raising hopes for peace in her country, Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga Friday told the people that her government is ''finally on the track'' and extended a direct invitation to the warring Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealam to participate in the new constitution-making process to end the ethnic conflict.

''The LTTE has a vital role to play in concluding this extended sadness for the Tamil people. It must recognise that assassinating Sinhala and Tamil leaders and innocent people can never resolve the problems of the Tamils or the minorities.

"I invite one more time all democratic political leaders to do battle for this country by reaching a consensus to the resolution of this conflict that has dragged us far too long,'' she said in her 52nd independence anniversary speech.

Perhaps for security reasons, Kumaratunga did not go the Jayawardenepura Parliament Complex in Colombo where the ceremony was held Friday morning, but made her address to the nation from Temple Trees, her official residence. It was telecast immediately after Speaker K B Ratnaike hoisted the flag.

The ceremony was held amidst tight security in the backdrop of an imminent LTTE attack to disrupt celebrations. Troops and police had virtually taken over the venue since Thursday night. Special barricades were put up at all entry points to Colombo city.

It is perhaps for the first time since executive presidency was adopted in 1978 that the head of the country did not attend the official ceremony but reached the nation through television.

Kumaratunga spoke with the full conviction that the people gave her a second mandate to end the war and find a lasting solution to the ethnic conflict. Notwithstanding that her earlier attempts had failed, her government would invite the LTTE to participate in this noble and great process, she said.

In a clear to message to the supporters of terrorism, the president said that they must even now decide to persuade the LTTE to adopt the dual strategies of dialogue and negotiation.

''This is the only path to free the people from the shackles of oppression and terror of all types. We cannot sacrifice anymore lives at the altar of anyone's cause. Let us together resolve problems and achieve all our dreams while preserving and protecting the lives of our children, instead of driving them to kill and be killed.

"The only path known to man for attaining that goal is the path of dialogue, negotiations and conciliation. We will continue to seek dialogue because we truly believe the future that the Tamil people dream of, and that we desire for all Sri Lankans, can ultimately be achieved by our collective efforts, within the process of dialogue,'' she said.

Reiterating her commitment to re-create harmonious relations among different communities, the president added: ''We must continue in right earnest to offer equal opportunities to every citizen of this country, we must share political power and guarantee all this, constitutionally."

Kumaratunga said the people of the north and east districts dream of living in security and prosperity. Thousands of soldiers also dream of returning home to their families.

''I say to the nation that today is the day for every Sri Lankan, Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim and Burgher to wake up to the fact that these dreams will not become real until we make concrete steps to make them so. Today is the day to say 'enough' to the misery of this conflict,'' the president said.

UNI

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