September 29, 2002	Sunday	Rajab 21, 1423

COLOMBO, Sept 28: Former Sri Lankan foreign minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, a member of President Chandrika Kumaratunga’s People’s Alliance (PA), said on Thursday that his party would not “in any manner” stand in the way of the efforts initiated by the United National Front government for a peace accord with the Tamil Tigers (LTTE).

“What we want is for the peace process to be implemented at a quicker pace,” Kadirgamar said at a news conference in Colombo.

The former foreign minister, known for his hard stance over alleged human rights violations by the LTTE, especially the recruitment of children, said the PA did not agree with the United National Front’s statement that a final conclusion of the talks would take years.

Kadirgamar said the PA stand was that the talks should reach a conclusion by the end of next year.

Speaking on a draft constitutional amendment to curb the president’s powers, he said the PA would not support the proposal as it did not see any relevance “at this point”.