Lanka says ceasefire pact holds, ready to talk

Singapore, June 3: Sri Lanka's foreign minister said today the government is not planning to scrap a 2002 ceasefire pact with the Tamil Tigers, and was willing to meet with the Tigers for talks as soon as possible.

A Sri Lankan defence ministry spokesman said on May 31 that the 'flawed' ceasefire could be scrapped within weeks, as it did not reflect the situation on the ground.

''I categorically state that there is no decision taken to abrogate the CFA (ceasefire agreement). It is not necessary to consider that,'' Rohitha Bogollagama, the foreign affairs minister, told sources in an interview on the sidelines of an Asian security conference in Singapore.

''We have always been encouraging them (the Tamil Tigers) to come for talks, and (the) likelihood is that talks will emerge soon,'' he said.

''We are ready for talks even today. If they can come for talks as early as this month, we will be happy, but we leave it for the LTTE to respond.'' The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) are fighting for an independent state in the island's north and east.

For months, the Sri Lankan military and Tamil Tigers have been engaged in almost daily skirmishes as well as land and sea battles, while an estimated 4,000 people have been killed in the violence since last year.

Reuters

Related Stories