Lanka rejects Oslo venue for talks
Sri Lanka's president yesterday rejected a Tamil rebel demand to hold talks in Oslo and welcomed a statement from an international quartet this week that urged the guerrillas to halt killings.
President Mahinda Rajapakse said his new government was prepared to travel to any Asian destination for talks with the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on upholding a fragile ceasefire.
Colombo last week backed down from its earlier demand that the negotiations should be within government-held territory and agreed to an Asian venue, a move which saw Japan offering to host talks.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. "I think the Tigers are playing politics," Rajapakse told reporters. "If they are serious they must come for talks in Japan. I am ready for talks as soon as the Tigers are ready."
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