'A vociferous minority cannot stop peace moves' says the president

President Kumaratunga emphasized that unless there is peace and political stability, Sri Lanka cannot gain the benefits of its development programs.

“We respect the fundamental rights of each citizen of this country. The majority alone should not enjoy the privileges of the country’s economic and social development”.

Two days of meetings and talks will focus on post-tsunami reconstruction and the wider economic development of the island.

The government is hosting representatives from more than fifty countries and international organisations.

'Vociferous minority'

BBC Colombo correspondent Dumeetha Luthra says there had been hopes the government and Tamil Tiger rebels would already have signed a deal on aid distribution. However, nationalist hardliners Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) in the government coalition threatened to resign if the agreement went ahead.

In her opening speech Kumaratunga tried to persuade a sceptical international community that it may still happen.

However, in an apparent remark on the JVP, the president told the forum that “ a vociferous minority” cannot stop peace moves.

A vociferous minority cannot be allowed to hinder the forward march of a nation towards peace and economic prosperity President Kumaratunga

“Sri Lanka has not been able to achieve what it might have, because of an ethnic uneasiness prevalent since independence in the past 56 years. For the past twenty or so years this led to an armed conflict in Northern and Eastern parts of the island. It affected not only those two provinces but also the entire socio-economic fabric of the country. Successive Governments have attempted to resolve this ethnic issue with varying degrees of success. There were shortcomings as well,” she added.

Joint Mechanism

Kumaratunga revealed that the LTTE has been very supportive of the Government’s development activities of war ravaged areas in the North and East Provinces even before the tsunami came about.

“We now therefore have an opportunity to get them involved in a common transparent administrative mechanism to rebuild the lives of tsunami hit people of those six districts.”

Praful Patel, deputy president of the World Bank urged the authorities to spend donor relief in a transparent manner.

Sinhala nationalists oppose the proposed tsunami joint mechanism

The donor countries are concerned on establishing peace in Sri Lanka, he added.

“We have all noted the efforts of the parties of the conflict to reach agreement on a joint mechanism for managing tsunami assistance in Sri Lanka.”

Finance Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama expressed gratitude to donor countries and organizations for assisting the country after December 26 Asian tsunami.

JHU protest

Just before the conclusion of the inaugural ceremony, Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) parliamentarian Athuraliye Rathana thero made a statement opposing the proposed joint mechanism.

Speaking to journalists after the statement the thero said the Tamil Tigers should stop all political killings if the LTTE to be included in the mechanism.

“LTTE should put an end to political killings, release all child soldiers, destroy their airspace and details of the joint mechanism should be explained to the parliament.”

Elmo Fernando reporting from Kandy told BBC Sandeshaya that 2.2 billion dollars has been pledged in the donor conference.

"Almost 90% of the aid pledged are grants," deputy finance minister Ranjith Siymaplaya told journalists.