In a joint
press statement released in New Delhi on December 1, Foreign
Minister Mangala Samaraweera emphasized the continued
commitment of the Government to the maintenance of the
Ceasefire, and the desire for a review of its operations,
so that the implementation of the Agreement can be made
more effective, according to Daily News. The Government
also extends a firm invitation to the Liberation Tigers
of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)
to negotiations for a political solution, the statement
added.
Meanwhile,
according to Colombopage, Constitutional Affairs
Minister D.E.W. Gunasekara, dismissed the LTTE's ultimatum
for a political settlement by next year and said no deadline
could be imposed to resolve the long-standing ethnic conflict.
"As a government, we don’t get excited by these deadlines.
You can't do these things in a hurry. You can't do it
in one night," Gunasekara said. However, the Minister
also said the LTTE leader’s statement was positive and
the Government is initiating talks with all political
parties represented in the Parliament before opening direct
negotiations with them. |
