Date:13/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/13/stories/2008071355191100.htm

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Ready for talks with LTTE, says Mahinda Rajapaksa

Staff Reporter

It should give up terrorist activities, says Sri Lankan President

Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing a media conference in Tirumala on Saturday.

TIRUMALA: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa said on Saturday that his government was ready to resume talks with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) provided it laid down arms.

Talking to journalists at the end of his two-day pilgrimage to the hill temple, Mr. Rajapaksa said the LTTE should give up terrorist activities and come to the negotiating table in the interest of the nation.

There was no room for suspecting the government’s intentions. It was the government which had been negotiating with the LTTE for the past 20 years expecting some positive outcome every time. Negotiations were held even in Geneva, Oslo and Japan though there were instances when the LTTE walked out of the talks, he said.

“Change in mood”

Replying to a question on the killing of innocent people, Mr. Rajapaksa expressed his deep concern and said they became a casualty even when the ceasefire was declared. Hinting that there was a change in the mood of Tamils, he said the election of a former LTTE leader as Chief Minister of the Eastern Province was an indication of this.

On India-Sri Lanka cooperation, Mr. Rajapaksa said New Delhi had always remained helpful to his country. “The relations between the two countries, I can say, are at their best.” He had great admiration for the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and considered him as the greatest of all politicians.

To a question, Mr. Rajapaksa denied that Indian fishermen were being harassed by the Sri Lankan defence forces. It was the LTTE which was forcibly taking away their boats and using them for the smuggling of arms, he alleged. “We even have reports from aerial surveillance squads to substantiate this.”

SAARC meet

Mr. Rajapaksa said efforts were on to strengthen ties with all member countries of the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation, particularly India, which was emerging as a developed country with a strong economy.

Sri Lanka would provide necessary security to all leaders attending the SAARC meeting in Colombo and there was no cause for worry.