UPFA prepared to talk to LTTE - Kumaratunge

[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 February 2004, 13:44 GMT]
Sri Lanka's President Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge Thursday afternoon launching the election campaign of the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) at Anuradhapura said she is prepared to commence peace talks with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), according to an evening news bulletin of the State run Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC). She, however, added that such talks should be held in an open manner, the news bulletin said.

Ms.Kumaratunge said all groups concerned with the ethnic problem would join the proposed peace talks of her future government.

She reminded the audience that the LTTE has stated that it is prepared to participate in peace talks with any government that is committed to work towards genuine peace.

She admitted that the Mr.Wickremesinghe's effort had brought certain amount of peace, and that bomb explosions have stopped. However discussion to find political solution to the ethnic problem did not progress as expected, Ms.Kumaratunge said.

She accused Wickremasinghe's government for failing to launch any new development projects in its two-year period. She added the farmers are undergoing untold difficulties due to the increased price of fertilizer and other related materials needed for farming.

Opposition Leader Mr.Mahinda Rajapakse, JVP leader Mr.Somawanse Amerasinghe and leaders of the UPFA were present at the rally.

Earlier UPFA leaders attended a religious observance at the historic Bo Tree in Anuradhapura, sources said.