President denied receiving a ‘secret document’ from the LTTE leader

The president said that government’s coalition partner Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) is also in the view of restarting negotiations with the LTTE.

“There are no contrary views among the members of the ruling alliance, the JVP the Governments junior partner has also been urging the LTTE to return to direct negotiations.”

JVP factor

The JVP has also accepted that this problem should be settled through discussions and some kind of devolution of power should be the solution, she said.

Resumption of talks  The Government is ready to discuss their proposals but the modalities have to be discussed. We should resume talks to reach a compromise on that President Kumaratunga

However, JVP’s propaganda secretary Wimal Weerawansa told BBC Sandeshaya on Monday that "the position of the JVP is that any Interim Self Government that excludes a permanent solution to the national question, should not be considered as the basis for peace talks.”

In a press release issued by the president’s office on Wednesday quoted the president from a nationally telecast interview on the previous night saying that she is ready to start talks “even within this month”.

All that is necessary for the resumption of direct talks have been created and the two major political parties agree on need to resume direct negotiations, she said.

"Secret document"

President Kumaratunga denied the existence of a ‘secret document’ when asked about the media reports of a message had been transmitted to her via the Norwegian facilitators.

But LTTE’s political wing leader Tamilselvan told journalists on Tuesday that LTTE leader V Prabhakaran sent a message to the president through Norway’s foreign minister Jan Petersen asking her to clarify the stance on resumption of the peace process.

Letter to the President  There is no point in talking to the President alone. We must talk to the government. Therefore the Coalition government must first clarify its policy V Prabhakaran

"There is no point in talking to the President alone. We must talk to the government. Therefore the Coalition government must first clarify its policy," LTTE peace secretariat quoted from Prabhakaran's letter to the president.

President Kumaratunga said the United Peoples’ Freedom Alliance (UPFA) Government was not opposed to an interim arrangement.

However, the LTTE only want to discuss their Interim Self Governing Authority (UPFA) proposals, the president added.

“The Government is ready to discuss their proposals but the modalities have to be discussed. We should resume talks to reach a compromise on that,” the president said.