Begin talks with LTTE - TULF MP

[TamilNet, Saturday, 12 September 1998, 18:26 GMT]
A senior member of the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) said that the assassination of the Jaffna Mayor P. Sivapalan indicated that the Sri Lanka Government (SLG) and the Opposition should not play hide and seek in the matter of finding solution to the ethnic problem, but begin talks with the key player in the issue ñ the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

Joseph Pararajasingham MP, (TULF ñ Batticaloa District) also said that no decision has yet been taken as to who would replace the slain Mayor.

Meanwhile, A. Anandasangari, Vice President, TULF, speaking to media personnel who visited Jaffna yesterday, said he did not want to apportion blame to anyone on the assassination of the Mayor and others.

He said that he did not blame the SLG which gave maximum security. He, however, condemned the killings vehemently.

The funeral of Mr. Sivapalan is to take place on Monday. The funeral of Major General Susantha Mendis, (promoted posthumously), who was the Jaffna Brigade Commander before he died, will be held on Monday at the Mahiyawa cemetery in Kandy.