Negotiations the only way forward

COLOMBO: The events of the past weeks demonstrate again that there can be no military solution to the conflict that continues to divide Sri Lankans, the US Embassy said in a release yesterday.

It added: "The people of Sri Lanka need and deserve peace.

The United States is deeply concerned by the dislocation of tens of thousands of innocent civilians and the killing of NGO personnel in the North and East. We call on the LTTE to return to political negotiations and to renounce terrorism.

At the same time, we look to Government of Sri Lanka to address the legitimate grievances of Tamil-speaking people and to respond to incidents of violence against civilians with prompt, independent investigations.

Without political commitment and a spirit of compromise between both parties, there will be no end to the conflict. There is no other way forward than through a return to negotiations".