Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe assured Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh that he would gladly engage in any discussion with President Chandrika Kumaratunga on the peace process, a press release from UNP Headquarters on Wickremesinghe`s current visit to India said yesterday.

The release said: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh emphasized that negotiations should recommence with immediate effect with the view to reach a political solution that safeguards democracy for the ethnic conflict and the solution should be within a united Sri Lanka. Commending the role played by Ranil Wickremesinghe in the area of enhancing and strengthening Indo- Lanka relationship, Dr. Sing said, Wickremesinghe has made the biggest contribution in the recent history in this sphere. According to the Indian Prime Minister strengthened ties between the two neighbours resulted in benefits for both countries and he and India very much appreciate the efforts made by the present Sri Lankan Opposition Leader in or out of government.

The meeting between the Indian Premier and the Leader of the Opposition took place at the Prime Minister`EDs office in New Delhi yesterday (12). The Sri Lankan delegation headed by the Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe received a warm welcome from Dr. Singh, which was followed by very cordial and productive discussion that covered number of subjects pertaining to the two countries.

Dr. Manmohan Singh commended Wickremesinghe`EDs ability to maintain cordial relations with all Indian leaders notwithstanding their political parties.

The main topic of discussion was invariably the peace process and the Indian Prime Minister was keen to learn the current situation with regard to it. Special attention was paid to challenges and obstacles that are likely to crop up in the future after recommencement of negations. Explaining the stance of his party the Opposition Leader pointed out to the Indian Premier that the opinion of the United National Party with regard to the peace exercise was unwavering and consistent. The Sri Lankan delegation stated that the United National Party would support the peace process in accordance with the Oslo Agreement and the Tokyo Declaration. Wickremesinghe drew the Indian Premier`EDs attention to the fact that for the first time in the long history of the Sri Lankan conflict, the opposition has offered to support the government without attaching strings of power greedy conditions. Elaborating on the disagreement arisen between the Government and the main Opposition on the National Advisory Council on Peace and Reconciliation, the Sri Lankan delegation made it clear that the UNP would most certainly take part in its deliberations following the recommencement of peace talks. Mr. Wickremesinghe assured the Indian Premier that he would gladly engage in any discussion with the President with regard to the peace process.

Both leaders agreed that current stagnation of the peace process might not only damage the Cease Fire Agreement but also will have dangerous repercussions that would adversely affect the future of Sri Lanka. In order to avoid such unfortunate situations, it was emphasised that peace negotiations should recommence immediately.

Wickremesinghe explained in detail measures taken by the former Indian Prime Minster Atal Beharee Vajpayee and himself to strengthen Indo- Sri Lanka relations and said that he greatly appreciated the support received from the former Prime Minister. He underlined the fact that the two countries were able to achieve rapid expansion and enhancement in spheres of economic, cultural, social, tourism, aviation, trade and defense during the two and half years his party was governing the country. The Indian Prime Minister praised the direct measures adopted by the Ranil Wickremesinghe government in order to achieve such results and expressed his desire to further strengthen existing ties and originate cooperation in new fields.

Two leaders exchanged their views on the relations among SAARC countries and necessity to reinforce them was emphasized.

MP Milinda Moragoda was also in the Sri Lankan delegation.