SLFP-UNP pact a fillip for peace process - Ranil

There is no point in coming to power by acting against the country's interests, Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday.

Addressing the United National Party Executive Committee meeting in Colombo on the SLFP-UNP pact, Wickremesinghe said the Opposition had to come to an agreement with the Government considering the imperatives of the peace process.

"As we are a reputed party we are bound to safeguard the peace process. Above all we should take the country forward. We should seek a political solution without dividing the country," the Opposition Leader said.

"Some UNP members say that we should have come to power by toppling the Government rather than going for a pact with the Government. But it is useless to come to power without having peace," he pointed out.

He mentioned that the Government has to reach a political solution which is needed by all communities to achieve permanent peace.

"Before there is an agreement with the LTTE and the Government, the UNP and the Government have to reach an understanding. Then only can we lay the foundation for permanent peace."

Wickremesinghe stated that he entered a clause in the pact to stop the harassment of party members at their working places.

Addressing executive committee members, MP Gamini Lokuge said employees should not face harassment even if the ruling party changes. "The UNP is willing to have a mechanism and we are preparing such a mechanism to protect the employees," Lokuge said.