Sri Lankan opposition says country at brink of war

Sri Lanka's main opposition Tuesday warned that the country is being pushed to the brink of resumption of the ethnic war due to inconsistency on the part of the government.

G.L. Peiris, the spokesman for the United National Party (UNP),blamed the government of President Chandrika Kumaratunga for failing to speak with one voice, referring to the difference of opinion within the ruling coalition.

The leftist JVP or People's Liberation Front, the main partner of the ruling United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA), is opposed to the resumption of direct peace negotiations with the Tamil Tiger rebels based on their blueprint for an Interim Self-Governing Authority (ISGA) for the war-torn north and east regions.

Peiris said there is widespread unease about the fragility of the ceasefire and the volatile nature of the situation in the east of the country.

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels have accused the government of supporting the renegade rebel eastern commander known as Karuna.

The rebel accusation against the government in addition to the tussle over the willingness to start peace talks based on the ISG Aproposals has hampered the efforts by the Norwegian peace facilitators to revive the peace process.

"The government must speak in one voice and inspire confidence," Peiris asserted, ensuring the support of the UNP towards efforts to revive the peace talks stalled since April last year.

Source: Xinhua