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Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka: More political parties endorse joint mechanism

MORE political parties yesterday lent their weight to the proposed Joint Mechanism to handle post tsunami relief and reconstruction in the North-East with the added conviction that this could also pave the way for a final resolution of the national problem.

The Communist Party of Sri Lanka in a media release yesterday pledged its optimum co-operation for post -tsunami rehabilitation activities in the North and East one of its arguments being that a majority of the tsunami victims belonged to the two minority communities.

It also contends that although the Military and Administrative authority rests with the Government in areas under its control, the political power often remains either with the LTTE or Muslim or Tamil parties.

The CWC while hailing the pledges made by international donors at the Sri Lanka Development Forum has underlined the need to have a joint mechanism in place to best utilise the assistance.

It also blamed the UNP, its one time political ally, for not taking a positive stance towards the Joint Mechanism to strengthen the peace process.

The party has called upon all political forces to unite to rebuild the nation.

The EPDP issuing a statement notes that only a Joint Mechanism could overcome various obstacles placed before the Government by the LTTE.

Observing that the population affected by the tsunami was desperately in need of relief, the party expresses the view that Joint Mechanism should not only be confined to relief and reconstruction but should be such that all the affected people would be served by it.

"We believe that such a mechanism has to be broad-based, and ensure ethnic and political pluralism and also respect democratic traditions and human rights".

Meanwhile, the Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP) notes that the Mechanism that the LTTE has accepted is purely administrative in character while the President had spelt out its functions.

The LSSP is of the considered view that this mechanism can prove to be a significant step in taking the peace process forward, without for the present effecting any crucial changes in the status quo.