Proposed all party meeting a futile exercise – JVP

Wednesday, 1 February 2012 01:07 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) yesterday dismissed the proposal made by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to convene an all party conference to discuss a solution to the ethnic issue saying it is a futile exercise.

JVP Propaganda Secretary and parliamentarian Vijitha Herath stated that the proposed all party conference would be a failure given the previous experience.

He noted that the President had previously summoned an all party conference and it was a failure and did not serve any purpose.

“The all party conference did not have an agenda and there was no proper outcome from it. It was a failure and there is no guarantee that the same exercise would not be repeated once again,” he said.

“The JVP handed its proposals and an agenda for the talks when the all party meeting was convened by the President last time, but it they were not considered,” he added.

According to Herath, the all party conference was nothing but a time buying exercise and a move to engage the international community.

When asked if the JVP would participate in the all party meeting if invited, he pointed out that the government should first reveal its stance on the solution to the ethnic issue and work to address the real grievances of the people in the North and East before proposing various forums to discuss the issue. (ColomboPage)