Monday, September 27, 2004

TNA wants Switzerland to pressure Lanka

The TNA had urged Swiss Ambassador Bernadino Regazzoni, to pressure the UPFA government to resume negotiations with the LTTE. According to a pro-LTTE TamilNet report, the meeting had taken place on Friday at the Switzerland Embassy in Colombo Friday. The TNA had been represented by the party’s Foreign Affairs Committee comprising Gajendrakumar Ponnampalam, Ms. Pathimini Sithamparanathan, and Joseph Pararajasingam.

The TNA had also emphasized the need for the international community to display a balanced approach, and that blaming only the LTTE for the violence in the east will not be constructive to peace. The active support of the Sri Lanka military to paramilitary groups is one of the key reasons for the escalating violence, the parliamentarians pointed out.

The TNA had also warned of the imminent danger in resumption of hostilities unless the government responded positively to the LTTE efforts to negotiate a peaceful end to the conflict.

(http://www.island.lk/2004/09/27/news2.html)