Govt always ready for talks - FM

The Government is unwilling to observe a truce ahead of any peace talks with Tigers, Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said yesterday. There would be no point when previous ceasefires had been heavily breached by the rebels, the minister told a Tokyo news conference.

"We're always maintaining our position that we are ready to talk with the LTTE ... if they wish to indulge in a more reasonable approach," Bogollagama said.

The foreign minister and his President, Mahinda Rajapaksa, were in Tokyo for meetings with the Japanese government, a major donor to the country.

Bogollagama said a cross-party committee was close to announcing a new plan to devolve power and try to resolve the conflict.