Sri Lanka main opposition party to support the government to resolve ethnic issue

Sri Lanka's main opposition United National Party (UNP) says that it will extend its full support to the parliamentary select committee (PSC) proposed by the government to formulate a political solution to address the ethnic issue if the government showed its commitment to the process and creates a conducive environment. UNP General secretary Tissa Attanayake at a media briefing in Colombo today said that
a group of parliamentarian headed by opposition leader Ranil Wickremasinghe conducted talks on the PSC and other issues at the Temple Trees yesterday, on an invitation extended by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Attanayake told the media that the stance of the UNP is that a political solution based on safeguarding the country's� identity is needed and the party is prepared to support the PSC process to achieve that. Attanayake said it is essential for the two strongest parties in the country, the ruling United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) and the UNP to come to a consensus on the national issue. The UNP group that met President Monday has pointed out to the President that for any fruitful outcome the government needs to include the Tamil National Alliance, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna and other parties in the PSC process. Attanayake pointed out that the government needs to establish an appropriate environment for the other political parties to participate in the parliamentary select committee and support the process. He added that the UNP is ready to extend the necessary support to seek the participation of Tamil political parties in this connection. The UNP parliamentarians have pointed out to the President that a common agenda needs to be prepared on the topics to be discussed at the PSC and the government needs to set dates for such discussions. The group has also pointed out to the President Rajapaksa that it is important to first study the recommendations made by the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission and then come into an agreement. The UNP General Secretary also said that the Opposition Leader has met Tamil National Alliance leader R. Sampanthan after his meeting with the President. Attanayake said that they met the other opposition parties which joined with them on the last May Day and discussed common issues. According to the UNP General Secretary, the opposition parties have highlighted the need to fight for the people's rights and agreed to launch and island wide campaign against the government.