EU urges return to negotiations

Rashomi Silva

COLOMBO: The European Union yesterday expressing its full support to the peace process in Sri Lanka and the role played by the Norwegian facilitator, urged the Government and the LTTE to a speedily return to the negotiating table for an immediate halt to violence.

The Union's current Finnish President in a statement asked the sides to "cease hostilities at once and to resume peace talks."

The Presidency said it was important to support and provide security to the truce monitors if the conflict was to end peacefully.

"The personnel of the Sri Lankan Monitoring Mission must be supported and their security guaranteed at all times," it said.