Enter democratic mainstream

President Mahinda Rajapaksa once again called on the LTTE to lay down arms and enter the democratic political mainstream. Addressing 14 political party representatives at the All Party Conference (APC) held at the President’s Secretariat yesterday, the President said that the country had reached a decisive stage to defeat terrorism and re-establish peace.

The minority political parties vented their displeasure to the Army Commander’s comments about minorities. But the President explained to them that it was not the government policy and the Commander had only expressed his personal views.

The UNP did not participate at the APC as the party hierachy was attending the funeral of the late Gen. Janaka Perera.