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Rajapaksa seeks opposition support

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Friday briefed Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe on the “close engagement” with India in dealing with the situation in Wanni.

The meeting came hours before the President’s senior adviser, Basil Rajapaksa, left for New Delhi on Saturday to address India’s concerns over the humanitarian crisis triggered by the war.

The President’s Secretariat, in a statement, said the President and Mr. Wickremesinghe discussed the current issues in the country, including the ‘humanitarian operation’ being conducted by the security forces in Wanni “to disarm the LTTE and restore democracy, peace and stability.” It said Mr. Rajapaksa apprised Mr. Wickremesinghe on the assistance being provided to civilians who have been displaced in Wanni. He emphasised that adequate food and essential items have already been sent to uncleared areas. The government agents in Kilinochchi and Mullathivu would carry out this task. It quoted Mr. Rajapaksa as saying: “The government would continue to supply these areas on a regular basis, to ensure that there will be no shortage of food and essential provisions and services to the people.”

He also briefed Mr. Wickremesinghe about the telephone discussion he had with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on October 18. Mr. Rajapaksa told Mr. Wickremesinghe that he had informed Mr. Singh about the government’s efforts to defeat terrorism and restore democracy in the North, and ensure peace and stability in the region.

“President Rajapaksa reiterated that there was no ethnic conflict in the country, and that the present operations of the security forces were designed to disarm the LTTE, which is posing a challenge to democracy. This would enable the empowerment of the people in the process of evolving a viable and durable political solution. He emphasised his commitment to a political solution, and that this required the disarming of the terrorists. The President invited the Leader of the Opposition to extend his cooperation in this endeavour to defeat terrorism and restore democratic freedoms to the people of the North, too,” said the statement.

A statement by the United National Party said Mr. Wickremesinghe and Mr. Rajapaksa discussed the “dire war situation [in the warzones], the 17th amendment to the Constitution and the upcoming budget.”

“Mr. Wickremesinghe, who is always consistent in his views and policies, advised the President that a final clear cut political solution to the ethnic conflict is imperative,” said the party.

Separately, the military said there was heavy fighting in at Akkarayankulma and Iranamadu areas on Friday. “Troops of the 57th Division operating east and west of Akkarayankulama Tank bund, Kilinochchi, made further strides into LTTE positions, inflicting heavy damages to LTTE,” said the Defence Ministry. Fighting was also reported in Kalmadu and Kokavil.

In a report posted on its website, the LTTE alleged the Army’s artillery targeted Sivanakar, a village west of Kilinochchi. In another development, the rift between Eastern Province Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Santhirakanthan and his party chief, ‘Col.’ Karuna, came to the fore with the decision of the faction led by the former to remove Col. Karuna as party chief. A report posted on the website of the English daily Daily Mirror quoted a TMVP spokesperson as saying that Karuna Amman has been removed as the party chief for making statements against the ‘party policy’.

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