Government committed to a negotiated settlement

The government is firmly committed to finding a negotiated settlement to the national conflict.

President Mahinda Rajapakse laid this emphasis to ambassadors of the co-chair countries. The he hoped that the co-chairs will be able to impress upon the LTTE to abandon their violent approach and return to talks. Mr. Rajapakse was speaking to the ambassadors of the co-chair countries, when they called on him at Temple Trees today. The aim of the meeting was to discuss the progress towards talks with the LTTE, proposed for the 28th and 29th of this month. Mr. Rajapakse asserted that the government will be compelled to take appropriate counter measures to ensure national security, if the LTTE continued with violent and provocative actions. The co-chairs expressed firm support to the President’s efforts to review the talks for a political solution. He explained the initiatives taken to establish a commission of inquiry and a group of international observers on human rights issues.

The co-chairs appreciated and welcomed the effort to observe international human rights standards. Mr. Rajapakse agreed that a Consultative Committee headed by Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe, meet key NGO representatives on a regular basis to probe human rights violations. Ambassadors of Germany, Japan, Norway, the United States and the European Union attended this meeting. Ministers Mangala Samaraweera and Mahinda Samarasinghe and President’s Secretary Lalith Weeratunge were among those who joined the President in the meeting.