Prime Minister confident of success in peace process
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has assured that any agreement between the government and the LTTE to solve the ethnic conflict would 'ensure the territorial integrity of Sri Lanka'.

Mr. Wickremesinghe addressing a news conference in Tokyo before ending his visit to Japan also reiterated his confidence in the peace process and said there were many great challenges, but those challenges generated new hopes.

"We would have to consider many examples. I am sure, the LTTE would have its own proposals. In a statement made recently in India, the President has said we would have to go beyond the concept of unitary state to find a solution to this problem. We will have to take all these into account when arriving at a solution that will have the consensus of all communities in Sri Lanka," he said.

The Premier came out strongly on President Kumaratunga's power to dissolve parliament by stating that the President has said that she would not dissolve Parliament if the Government had the majority. "We do have the majority. Therefore, as the President has categorically stated Parliament would not be dissolved. Even in the case of a dissolution, we will win the next election. A majority of people are with us."

Commenting on the peace talks, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe said that the involvement of the Japanese Government in the peace process encouraged and fortified Sri Lanka.

"There are two segments to this process. One is political and Norway has assumed the responsibility of that. Development is the other segment and Japan has come forward to look after that. Japan will be closely in touch with Norway and other countries like India and will give us assistance we require. I take this opportunity to thank the Government of Japan and the Prime Minister for all that."

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