Seven major issues to guide the peace talks

The government Defence Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella says the President Mahinda Rajapakse has informant the Co-Chairs of the donor conference that the future discussions with the LTTE must be based on seven major issues.

The President has stated that the prominence should be given to establish the right to hold different political views under democratic setup, Preserve human rights, the suspension of recruiting child soldiers, and the devolution of power in the North and East.

Minister Rambukwella at a media briefing held in Colombo today also said the president has notified the foreign representatives that the government is prepared to conduct talks with the LTTE on the 28th and the 29th of this month.

He has also pointed that the government will reserve the right to take action to safe guard the national security in the event of the LTTE resorting to the terrorist acts during the period of the talks.

The President added that there is no need to restrict the talks to the ceasefire agreement.

The Norwegian ambassador for Sri Lanka Mr. Hans Brattskar is meeting LTTE representatives in Kilinochchi today. Minister Rambukwella also revealed that the all party intellectuals committee is to visit India ion an invitation extended by the Indian government.