Tigers to set the course for Sri Lanka's new govt
(AFP)
Updated: 2005-11-25 08:31

The rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said they would formally react Sunday to President Rajapakse's offer of talks, which he made after assuming office following his narrow victory in last week's general elections.

The Tigers had dubbed Rajapakse, who vowed he would make no concessions to the rebels, the "war candidate" during the campaign.

The new government has several hardline allies who are opposed to Norway's peacemaking role and have accused Oslo of siding with the guerrillas.

Rajapakse on Thursday invited political parties to agree on salvaging peace talks with the Tigers, government spokesman Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said.

In his election manifesto, he had promised to hold talks with a cross-section of political parties aimed at arriving at a consensus within three months before opening negotiations with Tiger rebels.

Last year, the Tigers declared they would renew their armed struggle unless the government immediately agreed to revive peace talks, stalled since April 2003, based on a controversial rebel blueprint for self-rule.

Leader of Sri Lankan Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Velupillai Prabhakaran. [AFP/file]

A truce has been in effect since 2002.

However, they specified no time frame for returning to violence nor did they set a deadline for the government.

Former air chief Gunatillake said he suspected the Tigers could leave the peace process by early next year unless there was a revival of the moribund peace initiative.

The new government said it wants to hold direct talks with the Tigers and at the same time wants to review a ceasefire and overhaul the Norwegian-backed peace bid.

However, Tamil politician Dharmalingam Sidhathan said the Tigers "don't appear to be interested in talks at this stage."

Diplomatic sources said a top Norwegian peace envoy, due here this week, has delayed his visit until the situation becomes clearer but was closely following developments.