New Delhi, January 4
India today made it clear that it favoured a political package that could bring about a lasting peace in Sri Lanka and there could be no military solution to the problem. The Indian reaction came in wake of the Sri Lankan government abrogating its ceasefire with the LTTE.
“For India, any step that leads to a reduction in levels of violence and human suffering in Sri Lanka is welcome. Unfortunately, what we have seen recently has been an increase in violence, tension and conflict in Sri Lanka. At the same time, we are acutely conscious that what is required in Sri Lanka is a settlement of political, constitutional and other issues within the framework of united Sri Lanka with which all communities in Sri Lanka are comfortable. It is only through such a settlement that a lasting peace can return to that troubled country. We strongly believe that there is no military solution to the issue,” the ministry of external affairs said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka said today it was still open to a “negotiated political settlement” with the Tamil Tigers to the over two-decade-old ethnic conflict despite scrapping a ceasefire agreement, which it claimed, had been violated “thousands of times” by the rebels.
“I wish to underline that the termination of the ceasefire agreement does not in anyway hamper the process of moving towards a negotiated political settlement,” foreign minister Rohitha Bogallagama told reporters.
