Wednesday, April 13 2005 19:58 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) is fighting shy to hold talks with the Sri Lankan Government despite interest shown by President Chandrika Kumaratunga to revive the peace talks, Sri Lankan Industry and Tourism Minister Anura Bandaranaike said today (Apr 13, 2005).

"The President (Kumaratunga) is very interested (to hold talks), but the LTTE is fighting shy," Bandaranaike, who is also the brother of Kumaratunga, said today evening after interacting with industry leaders at the Federation of Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI) in Bangalore.

He said that the LTTE itself was undergoing internal turmoil through conflicts with rebel leader Karuna.

Bandaranaike said that the LTTE were not committing themselves on any issue or solutions, which India had learnt through their interactions with the organisation.

"You can't put them (LTTE) into any logical thinking of any organisation in the world," he said.

Stating that the LTTE was not cooperating with the Government in Tsunami relief operations in the LTTE-controlled areas, Bandaranaike said, hunger and poverty are issues where there should not be any difference between people in the world.

He said that LTTE's hardline thinking had stalled talks and was also hampering efforts to provide relief to the Tsunami vicitms in the region.