Doors are still opened for negotiation - The President

Sri Lanka News

President Mahinda Rajapakse has emphasized that his government is dedicated to peace and that the doors are still open to negotiate a political solution

The President laid this emphasis during a telephone conversation with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

The UN Chief expressed his appreciation on Sri Lanka's continued commitment to the peace initiative. Their conversation focused mainly on the recent developments in the island, following the closure of the sluice gate in Mavil Aru and tiger attacks on Jaffna and Muttur. The President said security forces are conducting mainly defensive operations.

The UN Chief deplored the brutal murder of K.loganathan, deputy chief of the Peace Secretariat. He also expressed his condolence to the victims in the attack on the Pakistani High Commissioner.

The President said government was continuing dispatching food and medicine to the Internally Displaced Persons and he is prepared to permit All UN agencies to undertake their humanitarian assistance.

Touching on LTTE propaganda on the air raids in Mullaitivu, President Rajapakse said troops identified and engaged an LTTE base, after a long period of surveillance. Kofi Annan thanked the President for the information provided to him.