Govt-LTTE talks on October 28 to 30 in Geneva

The next round of peace negotiations will be held in Geneva from October 28 to 30. Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said that the Government has agreed for unconditional talks while retaining the right to retaliate if the LTTE launch any attack.The government has responded positively after careful scrutiny of the LTTE's reaction to the Government offer for talks. Earlier the government proposed that the talks be held either on October 30 or November 10 and the LTTE suggested three days from October 28 to 30.Addressing the media after receiving the LTTE response on the Government's stance on peace talks from Norwegian Special Peace Envoy Jon Hansen Bauer, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, Head of the Government Peace Negotiating Team, said yesterday that the government is always committed top find a peaceful solution.

Norwegian Peace Envoy Hansen Bauer and Norwegian Ambassador Hans Brattskar yesterday flew to Killinochchi with the Government offer for peace talks after meeting Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva and Government Peace Secretariat Chief Dr. Palitha Kohona in Colombo. Hansen Bauer conveyed the LTTE's response to the Government Chief Negotiator Nimal Sirpala de Silva yesterday afternoon on his return to Colombo and briefed Minister de Silva.However, the Minister said the Government has not changed its stance with regard to national security, whatever the decision taken by the Government with regard to the commencement of peace talks. "The Government will not hesitate to react to any attack in defence of national security even under the ceasefire is in effect", Minister de Silva said.The Norwegian peace envoy was scheduled to leave for India this evening where he is expected to apprise the Indian leaders on his mission in Sri Lanka.