Colombo: Striking a conciliatory note, the Sri Lankan Government today (Jun 24, 2004) admitted that some rogue elements in the military might have supported the renegade LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) commander, the reason cited by the rebels to pull out of the monthly talks with the Army, and accused the Opposition for trying to sabotage the Government's peace process.

Government spokesman Mangala Samaraweera said that there was "no official" involvement with the breakaway Tiger leader V Muralitharan, better known as Karuna, but said some elements of the military may be responsible for helping him despite warnings that capitalising on the split could revert the country to war.

"Obviously, there have been military personnel involved...that we cannot deny," he told reporters.

Samaraweera said that Opposition leader and former Ranil Wickremesinghe was trying to sabotage Mahinda Rajapakse Government's peace efforts.

He accused the Opposition leader of getting one of his legislators, Ali Zahir Moulana, to help Karuna reach the capital Colombo from his jungle base in the east after the main Tiger unit mounted an offensive.

While expressing concern at the discovery of several bombs in the capital in recent month, the Government, surprisingly, ruled out the involvement of the LTTE.

Samaraweera said, "It is not the style of the LTTE to leave a bomb and give a call five minutes later."

He said there appeared to be a "conspiracy" to create fear among residents in the capital and discourage foreign investments and hinted at the Opposition's involvement.