This meeting is in fulfillment of one of our election pledges to develop the North and East, satisfying all the reasonable aspirations of the Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim people while addressing the grievances of the minority groups.

Our Government has already taken several progressive steps to realize this requirement. As soon as we assumed office, we requested the Nordic facilitators to resume their efforts to restart the peace negotiations between the Government and the L.T.T.E.

And, at present, the Norwegians are discussing separately with the Government and the L.T.T.E. towards this end. We have determined to start the peace talks which remain stalled for more than one and half years.

The two parties are working on the agenda for the Peace Talks, while trying to resolve problems that have arisen regarding the content of the agenda.

The problem that we are faced with today though real is a complex one. Thousands have lost their lives and the country has come to the verge of separation, due to this predicament. Therefore, we have to adopt a correct and scientific approach in finding a solution to the problem. We have to reach a negotiated settlement to a national crisis that we have faced.

We have to find a ‘political solution,’ which secures the territorial integrity, sovereignty, democracy and human rights and equality among the Sinhalese, Tamils, and Muslims.

We have to make a concerted effort to solve this protracted problem and not allow it to burden our future posterity with its tribulations. If we examine our history, we can find numerous mistakes committed by all of us. We should not resort to low political opportunism. We should not look at this effort through the colours of our political parties. This peace initiative should not be an exercise for individual political glorification, nor should it be an instrument to gain short term political benefits. Also, it should not become an effort of a limited group in the government. This is why we have promised you to restart the peace talks with a degree of transparency and also with a wide participation.

Today, we start this effort by establishing a continuous dialogue between the religious leaders, the government and opposition party members and civil society representatives. We need to discuss these issues with them and to take their ideas into our consideration. And we need to inform them about the steps that are being taken by the government to achieve the goal of peace.

Our manner of not discussing matters and not listening to others has deepened this crisis. It is hard to undo the past mistakes. We all have to be sincere in finding a solution for this problem.

And, whatever the answer may be, it should be accepted and supported by all. Therefore, an effort to achieve that goal is important. And today we are take that step.

After the communal riots in 1958, Hon. S.W.R.D Bandaranaike, the founder of our party, convened a parley to address this problem. We should keep in our minds, the words that he used on this occasion;

‘We are all brother citizens of this country. There are differences in race, language and customs in countries like ours. But above these differences, there lies one common factor. Beyond the differences we have to stress about our common humanism, in national and international level. After all we all are human beings who are facing some common problems’.

Even Her Excellency President Ms. Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge, in her address to the nation on 12th June, explained the structure of the peace initiative, which she is planning to present, with the broadest possible representation and a higher degree of transparency.

Therefore, let us forget our own ideologies for a short while and try to come to one single decision about this important problem, by discussing with each other.

Now I will invite Her Excellency President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge to speak about her important and crucial step in forming this National Committee for Peace and Reconciliation to address this national crisis, and about the challenges that lie ahead of us.