Friday, December 16 2005 16:50 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Colombo: In an apparent softening of stance, the Sri Lankan Government today (Dec 16, 2005) said it was 'amenable' and ready to 'discuss anything' with the Tamil Tiger rebels with the help of Norwegian peace brokers at an Asian venue.

Government spokesman Nimal Siripala de Silva confirmed a report from a Japanese envoy Sunday that Colombo was willing to hold talks with Tigers at an Asian venue.

On Sunday, Japan's special peace envoy to Sri Lanka Yasushi Akashi offered to host the talks after the Government said it was no longer insisting that the negotiations must be held within the island.

"Now the Government is amenable," de Silva told reporters here. "We have relaxed that condition of insisting on talks in Sri Lanka. We are awaiting a positive response from the LTTE."

He said Norway had agreed to keep up its role despite the new Government of President Mahinda Rajapakse having won the November 17 election on a promise to overhaul the Norwegian-backed initiative.

The spokesman said the Government was ready to talk 'anything' with the Tigers and what it felt important was to immediately sit down with the rebels for face-to-face negotiations.

"We must first break the ice. We are ready to discuss anything," he said.