Govt to push for political solution to Tamil ethnic problem:PM

Colombo, Feb 8 (PTI) Prime Minister D M Jayaratnetoday underlined the determination of the government to pushfor a political solution at the earliest to the decades-oldTamil ethnic problem in Sri Lanka.

"The government has taken steps to make a legal draftin order to offer a political solution for the people of thenorth and east," the prime minister said.

Speaking on a debate in Parliament to extend theemergency regulations for another month, Jayaratne said apolitical solution will be offered for Sri Lanka''s conflictridden north and east.

"Initial discussions have already begun," he said.

The LTTE waged a bloody three-decade civil war for aseparate state for the Tamils of Sri Lanka, allegingdiscrimination against the minority community at the hands ofthe majority Sinhalas.

Government forces crushed the Tamil Tiger rebels inMay 2009, ending the LTTE''s armed struggle for a separatestate in which at least 80,000 people were killed.

India has pushed for a "genuine reconciliation" in"spirit of understanding and mutual accommodation" after theend of the three-decade ethnic conflict in May 2009.

India has underlined the need to for a meaningfuldevolution process (for the minority Tamil community) buildingupon the 13th amendment as it would create the necessarycondition for a lasting political settlement" to the ethnicissue in the post-LTTE era.

Highlighting the negative role of the Tamil diasporain Europe and the US, he said the government was aware of amove to bring "war crime" charges against the country duringthe next month''s session of the UN Human Rights Council inGeneva.

"The Tamil diaspora operated in the Europe is makingplans in this regard. They are also trying to get support fromseveral ministers of powerful European nations," he said.

He further said that the LTTE sympathizers were alsoworking towards getting an unfavourable report from the UNSecretary General''s expert panel appointed to advise him onSri Lanka on alleged war crime charges.