By NNN-LK News
Colombo : The Government of Sri Lanka has achieved some important victories in the last several months. The expulsion of the LTTE from the East and the recent sinking of several LTTE ships carrying arms and other provisions mark important military successes,” said US Ambassador Robert Blake.
Ambassador Blake made these remarks at a Seminar held recently on “Sri Lanka: the Way Forward” in Colombo.
“While the Government must continue to defend the nation against terrorist attacks, the way forward lies in continuing to lay the basis for a negotiated settlement that will meet the aspirations of all of Sri Lanka’s communities: Tamils, Muslims and Sinhalese,” added the Ambassador.
A key part of that equation will be for the All Parties Representative Committee to complete its important work on a power-sharing proposal. From all accounts the APRC has made substantial progress.
We hope that all parties in the APRC will frame the final APRC proposals in a manner that avoids the use of divisive, emotive terms like “federalism” and “unitary.”
He said that Tamils and Muslims have a bright future within a united Sri Lanka and noted that the Sri Lankan Government is serious about ensuring their rights and providing opportunities equitably within a pluralistic state.
“… let me emphasize that a solution to Sri Lanka’s conflict is in reach. But it will require Sri Lanka’s government and parties to work together to put the national interest first. The United States, as a friend of Sri Lanka and a Co-Chair, stands ready to assist in any way we can,” Ambassador Blake said.
Meanwhile, Sri Lankan government forces continue to battle the rebels LTTE. In the early hours of Monday, heavy fighting around Kilali resulted in the death of three LTTE cadres and one government officer.
Three other soldiers were injured when the LTTE took the initiative in attacking the army defence line around Kilali.
The Media Center for National Security believed that a large number of LTTE cadres suffered injury in the counter attack.
In another battle at Thampane, Vavuniya, it was reported that 11 LTTE cardres were killed and two on the government side. Eight other soldiers suffered injury.
Following the counter attack by the Sri Lankan army the LTTE fled in to the jungles carrying their dead and the injured.