Thursday, August 3 2006 17:48 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Colombo: Sri Lanka today (Aug 3, 2006)offered talks with Tamil Tigers to end the week-long fighting over a disputed irrigation canal in the country's northeast, which claimed nearly 130 lives and threatened to blow into a full-scale war.

"The window is open," government spokesman Rambukwella told reporters here.

"If the Tigers are ready, we are ready too to start talks immediately. It is our duty and responsibility to ensure that the people get water," he said.

The fighting erupted last Wednesday when the Sri Lankan military launched air strikes as part of an offensive to take control of the Maavilaru irrigation canal in Muttur town of Trincomalee after the rebels shut the sluice gates, depriving thousands of farmers of irrigation water.

There were reports that sporadic fighting was still continuing in the coastal town.

Rambukwell said the army was ready to withdraw immediately from the site if the Tigers agreed to reopen the sluice gates. Troops who had gone close to the sluices were unable to open them because the area is heavily mined and rebels have been firing mortar bombs.