For us in Asia , there are major changes occurring today in the economic, cultural, scientific and technological spheres.

After a period of humiliation and subjugation, our region is once again on the rise.

It is within this context that we have to examine regional security and multilateral cooperation.

The great traveler — monk Fa-Hsien visited Sri Lanka. In 411 A.C. Gunawaraman (367-431 A.C.) from Kashmir visited Sri Lanka and went to China to be received by the Chinese Emperor with great honor. The list of our mutual interactions can go on and on.

During the period of the third Ming Emperor Cheng Tsu, Cheng Ho and his fleet of 62 ships in the early 15th century made seven sea expeditions. His ships dwarfed those with which European adventurers sailed hundred years later on their “Voyages of Discovery.” Cheng Ho went in peace, in search of knowledge and trade.

Till the middle of the 20th century and the liberation and Independence struggles of Asia and Africa, the world entered a phase of Western domination and colonialism.

But we are gathering here at a different historical juncture. Asia is rising and we of the JVP want to join with that Asia.

Three hundred years ago, the dominant powers in the world were in Asia. Thereafter, the West became dominant. But today a process is under way whereby Asia will once again be the dominant player in the world.

Within four years that is in 2008,China will have overtaken Germany, Japan by 2015 and by 2039 will become the world’s largest economy. Or the current G-6 by 2050, only Japan and the US will be among the six largest economies. China will be the largest economy followed by the US, India and Japan. Within the next 20-30 years, the big economies in Asia will rival those of the West. Still, especially in South Asia, average incomes would be lower than that of the West. There could be also gross disparities within countries.

Asia will in its modernization efforts also draw from its many civilization roots.

It will draw from what is noble in its Buddhist, Confucian, Hindu, Muslim and Taoist traditions.

Developed Asia will not be a carbon copy of the developed West.

Our present efforts should aim at that balance of rapid development and care of the environment.

This conference is also on the role of political parties in the modernization process of Asian countries. So let me digress a little about our party, the JVP-Peoples Liberation Front.

Our party was formed in1965 as a liberation front. Our first leader Rohana Wijeweera had studied in the Soviet Union but was dissatisfied of its direction. He predicted its downfall and spoke to us about the corruption there. He admired China and other socialist countries.

We embarked on the electoral process with total commitment of service to the people. For our party members, these qualities are natural.

We are a Party of the young fighting for the rights of the many.

Ours is a Party that wants to release the energy of all our people to make the country prosperous, bringing justice to every citizen irrespective of class, ethnicity, religion or caste.

We stand for the underprivileged, but we will strive to increase the well being of all the people. We are a Party committed to the immediate reconstruction of our economy bringing together the strengths both the public sector and private sector, of the strengths of the worker and the manager and the owner.

We are a Party willing to learn from whatever source for the betterment of our people. We are open-minded. We are always prepared to gather what is positive from North, South, East or West. We consider it our duty to respond positively to useful concepts from any person or organization from Sri Lanka or any other country in the world.

We admire the progress of China, India and Malaysia as they increased local and foreign investments.

But we will borrow only what suits us. We will fashion our own future based on our country’s proud history and traditions.

We will look to the future while not forgetting the rich heritage of our country.

We have no foreign enemies. We wish for friendly relations with both East and West.

We consider our ties with China is a model of non-interference in our internal affairs. China has maintained correct and good relations with all Sri Lankan governments whatever their political orientation.

The main enemy of our sovereignty is the racist and fascist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealam (LTTE). The LTTE pioneered ethnic cleansing chasing all Muslims and Sinhalese from lands under its control.

It poses a potential threat to the Asian region.

They have to be disarmed, not only for Sri Lanka’s benefit but also for that of the region.

We hope that all right thinking people will join with us in calling for the full restoration of democracy and the freedom in LTTE held areas.

Asia is on the rise and we in Sri Lanka want to be an active partner in the process.

We wish to join security arrangements that strengthen the integrity of our nations.

We as a party wishes to join in party-to-party relations for mutual benefit.

We on our part request you to help us in combating separatist, racist forces.

We on our part will not fail Asia.

The JVP wants to join the surging Asia.

Hail the peoples of Asia!