Colombo: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa today asserted that the government was always in favour of a political solution to the ethnic problem in the country but would not compromise on sovereignty.

The people are aware that the government has not launched a military operation (with LTTE) with political objectives, Rajapakse while addressing at the convocation of the Sir John Kothalawala Defence University here.

The government always maintained the position that a political solution should be provided to the ethnic problem, he said.

"The government's intention is to bring an honourable peace to the country. It is not ready to betray the victories won by the three armed forces nor would the Government enter into a peace that would betray the country's sovereignty," Rajapaksa said.

Sri Lanka's history has proved that the ethnic problem cannot be solved by acting in accordance with one particular view of a single person. "This is why the Government made provisions for an All Party Representative Committee where different views could be aired and discussed," he said.

The president said the country's armed forces had to adapt to the tactics of international warfare as they are fighting a war against globalised terrorism.

Rajapaksa said the forces needed university education that train them in latest war strategies, intelligence and war fare. In this sense, Sir John Kothalawala Defence University marks a special mile stone in higher education, he said.

Not only were the forces fighting the most ruthless terrorist organisation in the world but they are also involved in a human war, Rajapaksa said. The President commended the newly passed out officers and said the fate of the country lay in their hands.
Source : PTI