S.Lankan govt willing to discuss self-rule with Tamil rebels: president

Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga's government is willing to resume peace talks with Tamil Tiger rebels on the basis of the rebel demand for self-rule in the war-battered north and east, her office said Tuesday night.

The visiting Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister Vidar Helgesen met with President Kumaratunga on Tuesday and briefed the president on his discussion with political wing leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels S.P. Thamilselvan in the rebel-held northern town of Kilinochchi on Monday.

Helgesen told Kumaratunga that there was no agreement on the proposed agenda for the commencement of direct negotiations between the Sri Lank government and the LTTE and the LTTE rebels remained committed to the ceasefire Agreement.

"The president indicated to Mr. Helgesen that her government iswilling and keen to commence negotiations on an interim authority within the framework of a united state and to reach a durable solution to the conflict," the president's office said in a statement.

Helgesen arrived in the island on Sunday in his fresh effort torevive the peace talks between the government and the LTTE rebel which have been on hold since April last year.

The LTTE rebels put forward their proposals for the setting up of an Interim Self-Governing Authority in the north and east at the end of last October, which was rejected by President Kumaratunga.

She said that the government wants to discuss with the LTTE rebels a permanent solution to the country's two decades of ethnicconflict besides the rebel proposals.

The peace process in the country has been further delayed by violence due to internecine clashes between two rival factions of the LTTE since its renegade eastern commander known as Karuna broke away in March.

The LTTE rebels have repeatedly accused the government of harboring Karuna, a charge denied by the government.

Source: Xinhua