The government of Sri Lanka has confirmed that it is agreeable to meet with the LTTE for talks on October 28 and 29 in Switzerland.

The Secretary General of the Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process (SCOPP) Dr. Palitha Kohona, at a meeting held this morning, advised the Norwegian facilitators that the Government of Sri Lanka was agreeable to meet with the LTTE in Switzerland on 28, 29 October for the next round of talks. The exact location of the talks will be determined later.

Dr. Kohona reiterated His Excellency the President’s message given at the meeting with the ambassadors of the Co-Chair countries on 9 October 2006 in Colombo, where the President reiterated his firm commitment to a negotiated settlement and to make the forthcoming talks successful. His Excellency had emphasized that the Government would be compelled to take appropriate counter measures to ensure security, if the LTTE were to undertake any violent and provocative acts. Dr. Kohona also highlighted the continuing harassing actions, including artillery fire, being undertaken by the LTTE.

Dr. Kohona explained that the Government was not in a position to ensure the safety of SLMM monitors in the Muhamalai area consistent with its legal obligations due to sporadic shelling and shootings in the FDL and other areas by the LTTE. He stated that if the talks did take place, genuine concerns could be addressed and confidence building measures could be put in place. He assured the Norwegian Ambassador that the Government had not launched an offensive in the North.

Dr. Kohona also stated that the Government has clearly indicated to the facilitators, that if at any time the LTTE undertook actions of an offensive and provocative nature, the government reserves the right to take counter measures in the interests of national security.