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Rajapakse for consensus on peace process

V.S. Sambandan

COLOMBO: Sri Lankan President, Mahinda Rajapakse, will "immediately invite party leaders and parties represented in Parliament" as the initial step in its peace process, Health Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said on Thursday.

The talks would be to "come to a consensus," on resuming talks with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Mr. De Silva said on Thursday.

Media Minister and Cabinet spokesperson Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said, "The President would like to listen to all political parties and then come to a conclusion."

The two Ministers were addressing the Government's first press conference after Mr. Rajapakse won the presidential election held on November 17.

No date was announced for the commencement of the talks with the political parties.

In his manifesto, Mr. Rajapakse had said he hoped to conclude the "initial round" of talks with the political parties within three months.

The Government also announced that former diplomat, John Gunaratne, would head the Secretariat to Coordinate the Peace Process. Its former head, Jayantha Dhanapala, who had recently resigned from his position, would continue as adviser.

JVP to stay out

Mr. Yapa announced the creation of a Reconstruction and Development Authority, replacing the existing bodies involved in post-tsunami operations and north-eastern development activities. At a separate press conference, the President's electoral ally, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) said it would stay out of Government for the time being.

The JVP leader, Somawanse Amarasinghe, said the previous United People's Freedom Alliance Government had committed "certain mistakes" that had to be rectified before his party could consider rejoining the Government. He did not elaborate.

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