COLOMBO (PTI): The Sri Lanka government on March 15 said it had taken note of LTTE leader V. Prabhakaran statement expressing willingness for negotiations but insisted on certain conditions before any dialogue with militants
Presidential advisor on international affairs Bradman Weerakoon said the government had always maintained that talks could be held if there was renunciation of violence and all concemed parties are part of the discussion.
The Lanka government insists that the discussions should be held at the highest level.
Weerakoon was answering questions at a special briefing for media and diplomats on the situation in the island. The government stopped regular media briefing last year.
Weerakoon said Sri Lankan delegates made this point clear at the Geneva UN convention on human rights recently.
The LTTE which was prominently present was also trying to raise the human rights issue through some Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) with whom.
It has links. Minister for information and broadcasting Tyrone Fernando replying to questions defended President D.B. Wijetunga stand that the island only had a militant problem and not an ethnic one
Army spokesman Brig. Gemunu Kultunga said the LTTE was pin pricking the army in the northern Weli Oya and Mannar areas possibly because of its failure to disrupt the recently held elections.
Article extracted from this publication >> March 25, 1994
