"We will not send troops to Iraq"

Addressing a press conference at UN Headquarters in New York, the President called terrorism "the most dehumanizing, the most horrendous phenomenon of our times."

She stated that there were, nevertheless, alternative ways of handling it.

Iraq conflict

Ms. Kumaratunge said that U.S. President George W. Bush, in his speech before the General Assembly earlier today, seemed to argue that the main strategy of meeting terrorism in the world is through force, a view with which she disagreed.

"Even if the expression of the conflict may take the most horrendous terroristic forms, we believe that there are justified reasons for it", she said.

President on Iraq  We will not send troops to Iraq because we do not believe that war is the solution

She said there was, perhaps, no better organization than the United Nations to identify and address the root causes of terrorism.

When asked whether the results of U.S. elections might affect Sri Lanka’s willingness to offer assistance in Iraq, she stated that, "Whoever is the President of the United States, we will not send troops to Iraq because we do not believe that war is the solution".

Sri Lanka's own fight

The Government of Sri Lanka continued to seek a negotiated solution to the country’s own armed conflict, which had lasted for two decades.

A ceasefire had held for two-and-a-half years, she said, though she accused the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) of some violations including child conscription and the illegal collection of taxes in the north and east of the country.

"We remain committed to the concept that we do not like war", she said.

"We are determined to do our maximum to persuade our adversaries, the LTTE, to engage in the process of negotiations in order that we can together formulate a satisfactory and lasting solution to the conflict."

President on women in politics  Male chauvinism reigns supreme in Sri Lanka's political arena

She thanked the international community for its support of the peace process, mentioning the European Union, the United States, India, and Japan.

The Government of Norway continued to play an active and dynamic role in pursuing talks with the LTTE.

The President noted high levels of women’s participation at every level of Sri Lankan society.

The exception was in the government, where the proportion of women in Parliament and in provincial councils remained very low.

"Male chauvinism reigns supreme in the political arena."