"The Sri Lankan Government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam should forthwith start peace negotiations on a basis acceptable to both sides since it is the wish of the people in the South, where we live in, as well as those in the North whom we met there," said a group of regional journalists in a press release yesterday.
The journalists from the Kalutara, Galle, Badulla, Matale, Kurunegala, Kandy, Kegalle and Anuradhapura districts have issued the statement after exchanging ideas among themselves and with ordinary citizens and the LTTE leaders in the North during a three-day seminar held recently.
The statement also says, "when reporting the war that had ranged for the last 20 years and the ethnic problems on which it is based, journalists should take steps to establish a better media practice that cover all parties concerned, taking into consideration their social responsibility. It is our intention to see that the mass media become a partner in peace, and not war.
(http://www.dailymirror.lk/2004/09/24/news/19.asp)
