Colombo, April 15, 2003: The United States repeated its strong support for the peace process between the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on the occasion of Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage's April 10 meeting in Washington with Sri Lanka's Minister for Economic Reform, Science, and Technology Milinda Moragoda.

In a press statement released after their meeting, State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher said the United States was pleased that progress towards peace continues to be made.

"We hope that the negotiating process will lead to a permanent end to the Sri Lankan conflict based on the principles of democracy and respect for human rights, while maintaining the country s territorial integrity," said the statement.

Armitage also told the minister that United States will continue to wait until LTTE "renounces terrorism in word and in deed," before it considers removing the group from its list of foreign terrorist organizations.

According to the statement, Moragoda is in Washington to participate in the upcoming meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, as well as the Sri Lankan Seminar for donors to be chaired by Deputy Secretary Armitage.

Following is the text of a press statement on Armitage's April 10 meeting with Moragoda:

Press Statement Richard Boucher, Spokesman Washington, DC April 10, 2003 Meeting Between Deputy Secretary of State Richard L. Armitage and Sri Lankan Cabinet Minister Milinda Moragoda Deputy Secretary Armitage met today with Sri Lankan Minister for Economic Reform, Science, and Technology Milinda Moragoda. Mr. Moragoda is in Washington for the Sri Lankan Seminar for donors that the Deputy Secretary is chairing at the State Department, and for the International Monetary Fund/World Bank Spring Meetings.

Mr. Moragoda and the Deputy Secretary discussed the April 14 conference, the on-going peace process, reconstruction and economic development in Sri Lanka. The Deputy Secretary reiterated the United States' position that it will consider removing the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam from its list of foreign terrorist organizations only after that group renounces terrorism in word and in deed. The United States is pleased that progress in the peace talks between the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam continues to be made. We continue our strong support for the peace process.

We hope that the negotiating process will lead to a permanent end to the Sri Lankan conflict based on the principles of democracy and respect for human rights, while maintaining the country s territorial integrity.