UPF holds peace campaign in Colombo

[TamilNet, Saturday, 05 April 2003, 15:29 GMT]
The Upcountry People's Front (UPF), a constituent party of the ruling United National Front (UNF) Saturday morning picketed in front of the Fort railway station, in the heart of Colombo, supporting the present peace process and condemning the activities of anti-peace elements.

A large number of people including parliamentarians, provincial councillors, civil group leaders, members of the clergy and several politicians participated in the peace campaign, which was led by the Community Development Minister and the leader of the UPF Mr. P. Chandrasekaran, sources said.

Meanwhile Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Mr. Ranil Wickremasinghe Saturday issued a statement welcoming the peace campaign launched by the UPF.

"No government can develop the economy of the country and raise the living standard of the people until a lasting peace solution for the national conflict is found through peaceful negotiations," said the Prime Minister in his statement.

"We have made remarkable progress in the peace process. However, it is a pity to note that anti-peace elements are actively engaged in attempts to sabotage the peace talks without thinking of the future of the country," the Prime Minister said in his message.

Minister and UPF leader Mr. Chandrasekaran told the participants that some elements have been conducting protests and demonstrations against the Norwegian brokered peace process in the south. This might create some the suspicion among the international community that the majority of people are against the peace process, he said. “I organised this peace satyagraha campaign to assure the international community that majority of the people are for peace and only a handful of politicians are against peace process,” he told those at the campaign.