COLOMBO, Oct 27, Reuter: The Sri Lankan government said on Thursday it was extending until next Sunday a weeklong truce in its battle against Marxist rebels.
The announcement followed two hours of talks between President Junius Jayewardene and Representatives of seven opposition parties a government statement said,
“A detailed discussion took place to resolve the current political situation,” the brief statement said, adding that the talks would continue on Sunday.
Political sources said the discussions, the second round in seven days, centered on opposition for parliament to be dissolved immediately and for a caretaker administration to be formed to supervise presidential and parliamentary elections.
Jayewardene on Wednesday said he accepted in principle similar demands made by the Island’s four Chief Buddhist monks.
But he said the peace plan would only succeed if it was also accepted by the Marxist people liberation front.
The front, whose members are mainly from Sri Lanka’s Sinhalese majority is responsible for nearly 500 killings in its campaign against an India Sri Lanka Peace accord, police say,
Officials also accuse the front of inciting widespread antigovernment protests in recent weeks.
The front criticizes the pact with India, aimed at ending a separatist revolt by Sri Lanka’s Tamil minority, as a sellout to the Tamils and to New Delhi.
Security sources halted operations against the front on October 20.
But the police say the killings have continued, including 11 deaths on Wednesday and Thursday in attacks across the island.
In northern Sri Lanka, Indian troops killed two Tamil rebels when they stormed a guerrilla hideout, witness said.
India has about 50,000 troops in northern and eastern Sri Lanka to enforce the accord,
Article extracted from this publication >> November 4, 1988
