PM makes historic visit to Jaffna

Prime Minister Ranil Wickreme-singhe yesterday marked his historic visit to the embattled northern Jaffna peninsula, the first high-level political presence in this cultural capital for 20 years, with a promise to work for peace in a bid to woo support from Sri Lanka's minority Tamils.

"It is significant to be back here," said Wickremesinghe, who accompanied by two cabinet ministers and a host of journalists representing local and foreign media began his tour with a meeting with soldiers stationed in the northern province.

He also addressed government servants in the area and had set up meetings with civic organisations.

Asked what his message for the Tamil community here was, he replied: "We want to make life better for the Tamils whether they are here, east, south or the west."

"We have signed a ceasefire agreement (with the Tamil Tigers) and there is popular support for it both here and in the (majority Sinhalese) south. We are trying to make it work and go for talks " he said.

"We have gone further down the road for peace than on earlier occasions," Wickremesinghe told reporters.

Wickremesinghe's visit was the first in 22 years by a Prime Minister to the northern Jaffna peninsula. It comes 12 years after late President Ranasinghe Premadasa visited the northern Jaffna peninsula for an election campaign meeting there.

His tour to the Jaffna peninsula was seen as a boost to the Norwegian backed peace process aimed at finding a solution to the 19 year old minority ethnic conflict as it would build the confidence of the people there.

Wickremesinghe took time off to explain to the soldiers that even if the war was over, their jobs would be secure and they should fully support the government's peace efforts as it would not only bring peace, but also help boost the country's economy and create more job opportunities.

The Premier visited soldiers in the front-line at Nagarkovil, 50 km south of the Palaly air base where they landed earlier in the day in an Air Force aircraft. He is being accompanied by Defence Minister Tilak Marapana and Rehabilitation and Resettlement Minister Dr Jayalath Jayawardena.

The Prime Minister has been explaining the peace process to soldiers in the north east and eastern parts of the country over the past few weeks during which he has been telling them that while supporting the cease-fire agreement they should continue to remain vigilant about any violations of the truce.

The prime minister told officials the population of Jaffna, nearly 550,000 people, had suffered the most in the conflict. His visit had been previously unannounced here, but large crowds gathered to greet him, proving a nightmare for government troops entrusted with his security.

Later he made an offering of fruits and flowers at the sacred Nallur Kandaswamy Hindu temple, which is probably the only building left unscathed during two decades of heavy fighting.

He also visited the only Buddhist temple here and called for the support of the clergy for his fledgling peace process, and received blessings from Jaffna's Roman Catholic Bishop, Thomas Saundranayagam.

Wickremesinghe said he planned several more visits to Jaffna as a sign of his government's commitment to rebuilding the region.

Local Tamil politician, V. Anandasangari, said he had broken tradition to welcome Wickremesinghe when he arrived at a military airport in the peninsula because he felt the premier was sincere in his attempts to end the war.

"We are not a party that welcomes prime ministers and other dignitaries," said Anandasangari of the Tamil United Liberation Front. "But I went because he is committed to the peace process and we can turn a new leaf in our lives."

The premier is also due to assess the rehabilitation and resettlement programmes in the northern region as well.

Government spokesman and Constitutional Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris told journalists in Colombo that Wickreme-singhe's visit was "proof that the country has unity".

The visit came as the United States Assistant Secretary for South Asian Affairs Christina Rocca is scheduled to visit the Jaffna peninsula today. She is visiting Sri Lanka as part of a four nation tour to South Asia.

India, Bangladesh and Maldives are the other countries covered. Rocca is the State Department's highest ranking official of South Asia Affairs.

Before arriving in Sri Lanka yesterday she spoke to Foreign Minister Tyronne Fernando on behalf of American Secretary of State Colin Powell, congratulating the Sri Lanka Government on the signing of the recent cease-fire agreement.

Peiris said that the visit will be followed by a three day visit of Brigadier General Timothy Ghormley, Commanding Gene-ral of the U.S. Third Marine Expeditionary Brigade and the III Marine Expeditionary Force. He said that he will be advising the Sri Lankan navy.

"The response from the U.S. government shows that they are fully backing the peace process", Peiris said.