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Norway ignored by new President

By Chandani Kirinde
Sri Lanka’s new President Mahinda Rajapakse yesterday declared that he would be reopening consultations with “friendly countries who have worked with us in the past” to reach what he called an “honourable peace” to the national question with the LTTE.

But in an official English translation of the text of his address to the nation soon after taking his oaths and released to the press, President Rajapakse referred to “India and other other Asian countries together with the international community” to assist in the task.
President Rajapakse said in his address that he was deviating from a bi-lateral approach to the peace process and adopting a multi-party approach to the national question.

However, neither his address nor the statement mentioned Norway, the current peace facilitator or its future role.

In a separate statement issued by the Foreign Ministry, Mr. Rajapakse was quoted as saying in his address to the nation that he was willing to discuss a political solution with the LTTE "when the LTTE declares their readiness to resume negotiations — which they unilaterally abandoned".

The Foreign Ministry statement also made no specific reference to Norway but included the section where he said he was prepared to work with “friendly countries which have worked with us in the past in regard to the peace process".

It was not clear whether that was a reference to retain Norway as facilitator.
During his televised address, President Rajapakse said he would soon initiate consultations with all parties concerned “as a matter of priority with a view to building consensus.”

He reaffirmed his government’s commitment to the ceasefire and expressed “readiness to review the operations of the ceasefire, as soon as the LTTE is ready to do so.”

The President also vowed more discipline in the affairs of state. “The Buddhist teaching on punctuality is equally applicable in statecraft and public policy,” he said.

Allaying fears of the minority communities, the President said there would be no state interference in religion. The new President also spoke on his ability to relate to the common man in the country.

“I am not a prince born with a silver spoon in my mouth,” he said, adding that he did not need new advisors to make him understand the problems of the people.

He also had a word of caution for some people. “I believe my friends are those who offer just criticism and not those who sing hosannas in my praise,” he said.

During yesterday’s swearing-in ceremony, President Rajapakse also took the oath of allegiance under the Sixth Amendment, pledging he would not directly or indirectly, in or outside Sri Lanka, support, espouse, promote, finance, encourage or advocate the establishment of a separate state within the territory of the island.

After he was sworn in and his inaugural message which was widely cheered by the audience at the Presidential Secretariat, the new President was escorted to the grounds in front where the armed services gave their new commander-in-chief his first 21-gun salute.

The new President then inspected a guard of honour before going to Temple Trees to decide who would be his prime minister and other ministers.
Amidst different reports, the speculation last night was that senior minister and PA General Secretary was the frontliner for the premiership post.
In his message to the nation, President Rajapakse said that during the presidential election the overwhelming majority of the people had expressed their belief that the country should not be divided. “Today it is the common national aspiration of the people. It is this aspiration that would be the basis of my policy for achieving peace,” he said.

He vowed to initiate a new round of talks with all those who had a stake in the solution to the national question and take steps to accommodate due representation of the interests of both the north and the south in the talks. He also appealed to India and other friendly Asian neighbours as well as the international community to assist Sri Lanka in reaching an honourable peace.
“We will replace the hitherto held bilateral approach to peace with a multi-party approach,” he said.

The new President also thanked those who voted him into office and said the main objective of the election was to ensure the victory of a policy he had spelt out in “Mahinda Chintanaya”.

“It is a policy that protects the country without dividing it. It is a policy that takes the country forward by eradicating poverty, under development and backwardness. It is a policy that builds a new Sri Lanka,” he said amidst applause from the gathering of Cabinet colleagues, family and friends who packed the old Parliament building in Colombo to witness the historic occasion.
President Rajapakse also recalled that his journey to the presidency was long and full of challenges and said he knew he would face many more challenges in the future. “I will boldly accept all those challenges without hesitation for the welfare of my country and my beloved people,” he declared.

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