Ceasefire irrelevant for talks, Chandrika

By Nirupama Subramanian

COLOMBO, APRIL 27. The Sri Lankan President, Mrs. Chandrika Kumaratunga, said today that a ceasefire was not relevant to the ongoing peace process with the LTTE, and emphasised that her Government remained committed to the peace process.

``As far as we are concerned, having a ceasefire is irrelevant to the peace process,'' she is quoted as saying on a Government website.

She said her Government was committed to commencing negotiations with the LTTE and working out a solution to the problems which have led to the war.

``We do not believe it can be solved only through military means,'' she said.

Her remarks came as the security forces and LTTE remained locked in ferocious battles for the third day after the military launched an offensive in Jaffna peninsula.

The operation came a few hours after the LTTE allowed a four- month-old unilateral ceasefire to lapse, citing the Government's failure to reciprocate.

The website said the Government was expected to issue a statement on the peace process today.

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Section  : International
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