Zero tolerance of terrorism, says India

India's External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee yesterday said the legitimate aspirations of all communities in Sri Lanka should be fulfilled within the country's territorial integrity and framework of the Sri Lankan constitution.

The minister said some steps, including evolving a devolution formula, have been taken towards fulfilment of the aspirations of various ethnic groups.

He pointed out that a committee appointed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa on devolution was going to submit its report shortly. "We want those steps should be taken to logical conclusion."

At the same time, he said, India condemned terrorism, for which it has a policy of "zero tolerance".

He said there could be no military solution to the island nation's problems which have to be addressed by fulfilling the ''legitimate aspirations'' of ethnic groups.

India was encouraging the Sri Lankan government to resolve the problem through dialogue and implementation of a devolution formula.

"Military solution is not the solution. A solution has to be found through dialogue and discussion," he said during an interaction with PTI Editors.

Meanwhile, the US said it is troubled by the decision to terminate the 2002 ceasefire agreement. "Ending the ceasefire agreement will make it more difficult to achieve a lasting, peaceful solution to Sri Lanka's conflict. We call on both the Government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam to avoid an escalation of hostilities and further civilian casualties.

All parties to the conflict share the responsibility to protect the rights of all of Sri Lanka's people. We urge them to work toward the goal of a just, political solution that ensures the rights of minority communities and benefits all Sri Lankans. Only a peaceful political solution, not a military one, offers a way out of the current cycle of escalating violence," a Department of State Spokesman said.

UN Secretary General Ban-ki-Moon said he is "deeply worried" that the ceasefire withdrawal comes "amidst intensifying fighting in the North and increasing violence across the country".

The UK said it regretted the lack of a "genuine commitment to peace".

"We look to the political parties in Sri Lanka to place the need to work together for peace," Mark Malloch-Brown, Britain's minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, said in a statement.