Doors open for talks - Government

Support efforts to combat terrorism, public told:

Ranil WIJAYAPALA

Government Defence Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said yesterday that the Government will only consider banning the LTTE once the Government is convinced 100 per cent that they are not ready to denounce violence.

“The Government is still monitoring the LTTE while keeping doors open for them to enter peace negotiations without shutting the doors to peace by banning it as a terror organisation,” Rambukwella told the media yesterday.

Addressing the media in Colombo, Rambukwella said the Government will continue its campaign against LTTE terror until it denounces violence and enters the path of peace negotiations.

The ban imposed on the Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation was only an effort to clip the wings of the LTTE and coax them on the path of negotiations, the Minister remarked.

“This is the first time a Head of State is making peace efforts not forgetting the past experiences with the LTTE without giving into terrorism,” Rambukwella said.

Responding to a question, the Minister said the Security Forces will continue the hunt for the Tiger leader.

Rambukwella said the Government has completed 75 per cent of its mission of eliminating terrorism from Sri Lankan soil.

“We are now in the vicinity of Kilinochchi and will not give up our efforts at this stage.” the Minister pointed out.

The Minister said the Air Force will continue its air raids targeting LTTE military and logistic installations and their leaders despite the false propaganda campaign carried out by the LTTE.

He also appealed to the masses to extend their support to the Government’s effort to defeat terrorism while extending his gratitude for being vigilant thwarting many LTTE attempts to create mayhem in the South.