“Our foremost wish this New Year is success in the efforts to defeat terrorism in all its forms, bringing more freedom and democracy to all Sri Lankans; and beginning new processes for the sharing of power within a single, undivided country, assuring equality to all,” Rajapakse said in his New Year message.

Rajapakse had earlier made it clear that he will immediately go ahead with the proposals of the All Party Representative Committee (APRC).

Though some of the main parties have pulled out from the APRC, the President says he will put into action the report that is expected to be completed within the next few weeks.

Meanwhile, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake in his message on the occasion, said government will not compromise on economic development of the country despite rebel attacks and hoped that the war with LTTE will be won during 2008.