Lanka to reopen talks with Tigers, says Chandrika

Sri Lanka’s new government was preparing to reopen peace talks with Tamil Tiger rebels, President Chandrika Kumaratunga said over natio...

Sri Lanka’s new government was preparing to reopen peace talks with Tamil Tiger rebels, President Chandrika Kumaratunga said over national television today. Kumaratunga said her government had set out as a priority the need to revive peace negotiations.

In the first address to the nation after her leftist Freedom Alliance narrowly won parliamentary elections, Kumaratunga said that she wanted to establish peace, but did not say when the talks would begin. Kumaratunga’s statement came two days after the Tigers warned they would return to fighting unless the government granted them self-rule.

Her address also came after she had talks with the former premier Ranil Wickremesinghe who had spearheaded negotiations with the Tamil Tigers and entered into a truce agreement in February 2002. Wickremesinghe warned on Monday that the political instability following a hung Parliament was a serious danger for the Norwegian-backed peace process.

The Cabinet could be sworn in as soon as Thursday with President Chandrika Kumaratunga likely to keep top posts for herself. Kumaratunga, who as Executive President was not up for re-election, sacked the Defence Minister last November and has held the post since. Sources said on Wednesday she was likely to keep it and take over as Finance Minister too.

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