Sri Lanka formulates dual mantra to bring peace

Bangalore, Oct 29 (UNI) The ongoing peace talks with the LTTE in Geneva and empowering minorities by reviving the Gram Sabha system were the twin steps the Sri Lankan government initiated to bring back peace and facilitate trade and investment in the strife-torn island nation, Sri Lanka Minister for Science and Technology Tissa Vitharana said today.

Interacting with the media here, he expressed optimism that the ongoing talks with the LTTE, which is waging a bloody war demanding a separate nation for Tamils, would bring out desired results and result in peace coming back to the nation.

The Minister visited the ongoing IT mega exposition 'Bangalore IT.in' to explore the possibilities of Indian IT companies setting up units in the Emerald Isles.

Mr Vitharana, who was also the Chairman of the All Party Representative Committee set up by the government to chalk out norms for a negotiated settlement to the ethnic strife and a broad based new constitution, said, "The strife is not actually affecting the civilian life. It is not a civilian problem. The ongoing talks will result in peace and this will facilitate trade and more investment." He said he was leading an all-party delegation to India to study the devolution of powers to people at the village level. "We want to implement the Indian model of Panchayat Raj in Sri Lanka.

This is being done as per the government initiative through which people at the grass roots level, especially the minorities are empowered. This we will result in the uplift of minorities, both socially and economically. Panchayat Raj is not a new thing for our country. We had a similar system called Gram Sabhas, but, unfortunately, it died out. The government has decided to revive it now," he added.

Mr Vitharana said that "our government was really appreciative of the support extended by the Indian government. The Indian government's support is vital to us. Though we believe that we have to find our own ways to solve our problems, India's support is extremely important to us." .

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