UNP MP Dr.Jayalath Jayawardena

UNP parliamentarian Dr.Jayalath Jayawardena speaking to the BBC Sandeshaya in London after attending a South Asia Peace Conference held in Oslo, Norway said that the Norwegian Special Peace Envoy, Jon Hassen-Bauer gave that assurance.

Dr.Jayawardena along with the Ven.Brahmanawatte Seevali Nayaka Thera and the Ven.Maduluwawe Sobhita Thera met the Norwegian Minister for Evironment, Erik Solheim and Norwegian Special Envoy, Jon Hassen-Bauer.

Dr.Jayawardena said representing the opposition; he emphasized at the seminar that the UNP's stand for the ethnic problem is a political solution.

He said it is necessary to counteract terrorist activities and threats to country's territorial integrity and sovereignty but as he recalled what General Denzil Kobbekaduwa once said "the final solution to the ethnic problem is a political solution".

	"No support for separate state" says Norway

He added that the opposition UNP helped pass the Emergency Regulations bill in parliament "directly and indirectly", in order to support the government "wage war against terrorism".

UNP MP Dr.Jayawardena attended the Oslo Conference which was also attended by pro LTTE Tamilnadu politician Vaiko. Asked how he justified such a meeting, Dr.Jayawardena said if an acceptable solution was to find it is always better to consult opposition views.