'Tamil Council' could be a way out to end blood she: Lankan Minister

Colombo, July 8 (UNI) Claiming that the war against the Tamil Tiger rebels may not end the prolonged ethnic conflict in the island nation, a top Sri Lankan Minister has proposed that 'Tamil Council' with extensive autonomy could be a way out to end the decades long bloodshed.

"I am not saying to hand over the North and the East to the Tamil Tigers, but they also can be part of the Tamil Council I am talking about," newly appointed Minister for Special Projects, Mahinda Wijesekera has told reporters at Matara in the Southern Province.

"We need to be innovative in our thinking. We need to have fresh ideas to solve this problem," Minister Wijesekera has said.

Minister Wijesekera made these suggestions while addressing a media refresher workshop organised for the provincial journalists by the Media Ministry in the heartland of the majority Sinhalese yesterday.

Pointing out the skyrocketing cost of living was due to the huge war expenditure to fight the Tamil Tigers Minister Wijesekara has said that each bomb dropped by the government troops cost them not less than 65,000 rupees.

"We will start seeing stars during the day also when we have to pay interest on the loans we have taken to buy weapons and bombs," Wijesekera said highlighting the urgent need to find a political solution.

UNI