SL Government ready to resume peace talks- Cabinet Spokesman

[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 July 2004, 10:25 GMT]
The minority United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government said Thursday that it is prepared to commence peace talks with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) at any time and anywhere. Speaking at the post Cabinet press briefing held Thursday Media Minister Mr. Mangala Samaraweera said that the LTTE should adopt a policy of flexibility in its stand, sources in Colombo said.

In reply to a question Cabinet Spokesman Mr. Mangala Samaraweera said government has accepted its responsibility and the need to resume the peace talks in the interest of the country. He appealed to the LTTE to extend its co-operation to put a stop to the killings in the northeast and the south, sources said.

Sri Lanka's President Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge Tuesday told the visiting Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Vidar Helgessen during a lengthy meeting at President's House that he government was willing and keen to resume negotiations with the LTTE on an interim authority within the frame work of a united Sri Lanka and to reach a durable solution to the ethnic conflict, according to Presidential Secretariat media release.

Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge reiterated the Government's commitment to the ceasefire agreement and expressed hope that the LTTE would agree to resume talks on the basis outlined by her, the media release added.