ADVT:

  Home   Astrology   Business   Indiafocus   Lifestyle   Movies   News   Parenting   Online Exam   Sports   Travel
Home -> News -> World -> Full Story

Sri Lanka Prez in new bid to salvage peace talks
Thursday, November 24 2005 15:41 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Colombo: Sri Lanka's new President Mahinda Rajapakse today (Nov 24, 2005) invited political parties to hammer out a common position on reviving peace talks with Tamil Tiger rebels, a Government spokesman said.

Rajapakse has asked all political parties with representation in parliament to enter into a discussion with him on a way to saving the peace process, spokesman Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said.

Spotlight: Lanka Peace Process

The President in his election manifesto promised that he would hold talks with all political parties within three months to initiate a fresh discussion with Tiger rebels.

He appointed former diplomat John Gunaratne to head the Government's peace secretariat while retaining its former head Jayantha Dhanapala as an adviser.

It was not immediately clear how Rajapakse would initiate a discussion given that in his manifesto, which has the backing of Marxists as well as ultra nationalist Buddhist monks, he promises that there will be no concessions to Tamil Tigers.

He has also promised to overturn previous plans for a federal system in exchange for ethnic peace.

The Tigers are yet to react to Rajapakse's offer of direct talks and LTTE supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran's annual policy statement on Sunday is seen as crucial to understand the direction of the peace bid.

More than 60,000 people have been killed in Sri Lanka's drawn out Tamil separatist conflict and four previous attempts at direct negotiations ended in failure and led to more bloodshed.

PTI

Related Stories
Rajapakse appoints cabinet; keeps defence & finance
Ratnasiri Wickremanayake appointed as Sri Lanka PM








Opinion Poll
Is Raj Thackeray going overboard with his anti-North Indian stance?
Yes
No
Can't say
    

Results | Previous Results
More News
BJP expels eight Lok Sabha MPs
5 killed in Srinagar grenade...
Govt will be toppled, vows...
CPI-M had no option but to...
BJP MP's house attacked by...
CPI-M politburo meets, to move...
Mayawati, Left to hold...
Maya accused of luring MPs with...
Strong earthquake jolts Japan,
Leak at French nuclear plant...
Sangrash Samiti calls for Jammu...
Arctic holds 90 billion barrels...
US asking China to follow...
US has congratulated the UPA...
French parliament adopts law...
Left criticised for favouring...
Osama's driver faces US...
Better Indo-Pak ties will help...
Congress supporters celebrate...
Confusion after electronic...
Prove bribery charge: Ahmed...
Worth a click
  Sarees
Baby Clothes
Jewellery
Bluetooth Headsets
Health & Fitness

Search Keywords