Wickremesinghe for political solution, power sharing

Chennai, June 8 (UNI) Former Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe today spelt out a two-pronged strategy to end the decades-old ethnic strife in the island nation.

''To find a permanent solution to the ongoing trouble in Lanka, two plans are necessary. A political solution, coupled with sharing of powers among all the communities, will restore peace in the island. However, the Rajapakse Government is not doing this,'' he said.

In a brief chat with newspersons at the airport here on his arrival from Coimbatore, Mr Wickremesinghe said the common people in Sri Lanka were being put to untold hardship as peace had been eluding the country.

Claiming that the outside world was unaware of most incidents that happen in Sri Lanka, he said the Government was exerting pressure on the media against reporting all the incidents. There was no freedom of the Press in the country, he added.

Condemning the prevailing situation, Mr Wickremesinghe said his party would organise a massive agitation and was making arrangements for it.

The Lankan leader, proceeding to New Delhi, said he would meet some key leaders in the Indian Capital, but refused to divulge details.

UNI XR-GD RL KP1716