Sri Lanka President Chandrika Kumaratunga announced today that her government was prepared for peace talks with Tamil Tiger rebels in a bid to end decades of ethnic bloodshed.
In an address to the nation on the 53rd anniversary of independence, Kumaratunga said there was a "somewhat positive response" from separatist Tamil rebels on entering negotiations.
"We must see how we can make use of the window of opportunity," Kumaratunga said, adding that her government "never closed the door for peace talks with the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam)."
AFP