Govt reiterates commitment to political solution

COLOMBO: The Government yesterday deplored the continued reluctance of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to participate in the second round of Geneva talks.

The LTTE's attitude is more regrettable coming as it does in the wake of a series of unprovoked bombing attacks on unarmed Security Forces and civilians, the Government Information Department said in a release.

"The Government remains totally committed to a negotiated political solution and the continuation of talks with the LTTE with Norwegian facilitation," it said.

The release: "The Government wishes to reiterate that it has accommodated the wishes of the LTTE made through the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) and the Norwegian facilitators to provide civilian sea passage under the supervision of the Sri Lanka Navy, arranged in an agreement with the SLMM and later to allow air travel by a private helicopter for the LTTE leaders for consultations with the Eastern leaders prior to the Geneva talks.

The Government is deeply concerned about hostile attacks perpetrated by the LTTE before and after the first round of Geneva talks and wish to point out that the SLMM has also condemned those attacks and acknowledged that the pattern of the attacks had clearly indicated that the LTTE was responsible for them.

It is a matter of deep concern that the LTTE had refused to accede to the calls made by the Government and the international community to desist from such violations of the ceasefire especially attacks on civilians and unarmed Security Forces.

The LTTE's delay in spite of the untiring efforts by the Government, the facilitator and the Co-Chairs to ensure LTTE participation at the talks casts a shadow over its commitment to a negotiated solution.

The Government is however encouraged by the LTTE decision to abide by the Ceasefire Agreement despite its withdrawal from the Geneva talks. The Government, as in the past, would adhere to the letter and sprit of the Ceasefire Agreement.

The Government will continue to extend all cooperation to the facilitator and the Co-Chairs as well as the international and diplomatic community in their endeavour to facilitate talks between the two parties."