Monday, August 15 2005 16:16 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Colombo: Sri Lanka today (Aug 15, 2005) said it will undertake a serious review of the Norwegian-backed peace process in wake of killing of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar and asked India and other supporters to recognise their "special responsibility" after the assassination.

In the light of the assassination, there would have to be a serious review of certain policies and procedures followed up to now in relation to the peace process, the head of the Government's Peace Secretariat Jayantha Dhanapala said.

Dhanapala, who had briefed Colombo-based diplomats on the assassination, said he expected the key international supporters of Sri Lanka's peace process, India, the US, EU and Japan, to recognise their "special responsibility" after Kadirgamar's assassination.

"This has gone too far," Sri Lanka's Foreign Secretary S. Palihakkara said urging the international community to take practical measures for the "prevention and suppression of terrorism."

"These measures could include sanctioning and internationally isolating the responsible entities and individuals, and engaging in international law enforcement cooperation against their terrorist activities," he said.

The Government would, however, continue to stand by the Oslo-brokered truce with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a Foreign Ministry statement said.

President Chandrika Kumaratunga last night (Aug 14, 2005) reiterated her commitment to engage in talks with the LTTE but sharply criticised the rebels for carrying out the slaying even though they were observing a truce with the Government.