Front Page   

LTTE demand selfish: Colombo

B. Muralidhar Reddy

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka on Tuesday said re-opening of A 9 highway — which links Jaffna peninsula to the rest of the country — was not feasible from the "national security" point. It said the highway would help LTTE force Jaffna University students to join its militant training camps.

At a news conference here, Minister and defence spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said the Tigers' had selfish motives in demanding the highway opening. It was on this subject that the Geneva-II talks collapsed and the LTTE refused to commit itself to the next round.

At a separate media briefing, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva who led the Government delegation at the Geneva round, said the issue could be considered later if LTTE stopped violence. He claimed that at Geneva there was no difference of opinion except on A 9.

Political issues

"[The] LTTE has even said it was happy to note the newly signed Memorandum of Understanding between the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and the United National Party and would like to talk to the Government on political issues after emergence of southern consensus."

Mr. Nimal de Silva said that at Geneva the LTTE had not made any complaint about the military build-up or offensive. "It is interesting to note that the Tamil Tigers delegation did not even complain about the takeover of the Sampur by the forces."

The defence spokesman said no one was surprised at the lack of results in Geneva. He said it was not the Government's decision to close A 9. "However, A 9 had to be closed from 11th August, 2006 due to the continuous attacks on the troops with mortar and artillery. If A 9 was opened at this point, Muhamalai, it would enable LTTE to force students from Jaffna University into LTTE training camps in LTTE-controlled areas and release them back to Jaffna as mercenaries."

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Centre to seek relief for traders
Azad: I did not seek mercy for Afzal
RBI moves to curb inflation
N. Korea to return to 6-party talks
Exciting encounter on the cards
Gayle, vital cog in Windies's wheel
Conditions negated the home advantage
Manmohan's convoy gets stuck in traffic
Can money alone make champions?
17 killed in accident at unmanned level crossing
Three Lashkar men escape after gunbattle
LTTE demand selfish: Colombo
Maternal mortality rate declines
MCD goes to Supreme Court
Speed governor: State plans review petition
Several towns in coastal area under water
ADB closes sectoral loan package
"Don't deny relief on technical grounds"
Helmets are must from today
Ministers asked to rush to flood-hit areas
Six women ordained as pastors
3 of a family asphyxiated
Jawan kills Lt. Col.
Bureaucrats sacked

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu