Chandrika reaffirms commitment to peace

By Nirupama Subramanian

COLOMBO, MAY 2. Reiterating her commitment to a political solution to the ethnic conflict, the President, Ms. Chandrika Kumaratunga, has appealed to the Tamils of northern Sri Lanka to push the LTTE to the negotiating table.

``We believe the people of Jaffna would be able to persuade the LTTE to abandon their violent ways and agree to a solution that upholds democracy,'' Ms. Kumaratunga was quoted by the State-run Daily News as saying in her May Day address to the Tamils of Jaffna through a satellite TV link-up. The President also reiterated her government's position that it was the LTTE that had delayed the process initiated by the Norwegians for peace talks by bringing up new demands and conditions.

The LTTE, on the other hand, in a statement on Tuesday blamed the government of dragging its feet and ``undermining`` the process by launching a military offensive in Jaffna peninsula last week.

Ms. Kumaratunga said it was her government that had brought a degree of normalcy to Jaffna. She said it was her hope that she could usher in peace to the entire north-east ``without delay.''

The Norwegian special envoy, Mr. Erik Solheim, who is attempting to revive the peace process after the last bout of hostilities between the government and the LTTE, left today after meetings with Mrs Kumaratunga and the leader of the opposition, Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe. No details were available of his discussions with the two leaders.

He also met the Indian High Commissioner, Mr. Gopalkrishna Gandhi, and the Canadian High Commissioner, Ms. Ruth Archibald, who returned on Tuesday from the LTTE-held northern Sri Lanka, where she met the group's political wing leader, Mr. S Thamilchelvam.

Clashes in central Lanka

Meanwhile, authorities have clamped a curfew on a town in central Sri Lanka after clashes erupted today between the majority Sinhala community and minority Muslims there.

There is no definite word on casualties though unconfirmed reports said one person was killed and eight injured in the rioting in Mawanella town, 80 kms east of the capital.

Reports reaching here said the situation was under control, but tension remained in some areas.

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Section  : International
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